subgeniuschick
New member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2010
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
I've been reading through some past threads and there seems to be a lot of very knowledgeable people on here so I'm hoping someone can help.
Vehicle: 1999 GMC SONONA HIGHRIDER (maintained and in good shape).
Problem: An intermittent starting issue which is almost possible to describe, so please bear with me ... this is very long.
I noticed last November that when I put the key in the ignition that the fuel gauge (just the fuel gauge) would move ever so slightly. Sometimes you'd turn the key and just get a 'clicking' noise, but usually if you just tried to restart the truck again, it would work on the third or fourth try. Then the problem dissapeared entirely for several weeks. Then a new problem popped up along with Problem#1 returning; After the truck started it was fine until I went to back out the garage and turned the wheel. At that point, every dash light would light up for a second, all the gagues would jump and the truck would just shut off. No sputter, just "OFF". Much like turning the key and getting the clicking noise, this problem was also very intermittant - we'll call it Problem#2. The truck would start again just fine after with doing nothing other than turning the key.
After several weeks I noticed that when I put the truck into Park after backing out of my garage (got to get out to shut the garage door) that my headlights wouldn't shut off right away. The headlight thing, unlike Problem#1 & #2, was fairly consistant - almost daily; whereas Probs #1 & #2 were totally hit and miss. Then the truck would be perfectly fine for weeks on end. Something else possibly noteworthy about #1 & #2 is that this only ever happened in the morning. It never happened any other time up until about a month ago - then I had Prob#1 pop up one day when leaving work. Over the last few weeks Problem#1 has been getting progressively worse (Problem #2 never did re-appear) and none of the mechanics I've taken it too over the last several months have been able to find the root of the problem.
I towed it home this past Friday and figured I'd give a shot at trying to find the problem (or at least narrow it down) myself. I've been told it's the starter, the battery, the transmission safety switch, the ignition, the water pump, solar flares, gremlins, the loch ness monster ...
At the point I towed it home yesterday, when you put the key in and turned you'd get all sorts of weird things going on and none of them consistant. The only consistant thing was that the truck wouldn't start. At that point, all I'd ever done with the truck myself was jiggle some wires around the battery and-or starter area and talk to it nicely - usually that worked, as did slamming the hood apparently. As mentioned, it's been to several different mechanics, including a GM dealer, but none o them actually "did" anyhing to the truck. Last visit was late May.
The "weird things" consisted of: Turning the key, hearing the fuel pump kick in, then turn key to start and click. Putting the key in, having all the gagues jump, then turn the key and nothing, then turing to start and clicking. Other times you'd put the key in and nothing would happen - turn and nothing, or turn and clicking. You could just put the key in, stand away doing nothing and suddenly the dash gagues would jump. Then you'd turn the key and everything would light up just like it shoud, turn again to start and everything would die ... the damn thing is making me nuts.
If you've read through thus far, I thank you. From my user ID, it's obvious that I'm female, so I'll start w/ the painfully obvious and work my way through to where I am at now since towing it home yesterday:
- the battery has full charge and is connected (correctly).
- I've pulled both battery leads and removed all corrosion (there was very little).
- Battery posts are solid and fine.
- I inspected (for what it's worth) all visible wiring (pre-dash removal) and cannot see anything out of order.
- Pulled the starter leads and cleaned away the corrosion (again, very little).
- I've tested the starter and it's getting power.
- I've removed the starter and bench tested it - it's perfectly fine.
- For pure and utter sport, I tried boosting it w/ my charger and also plugged the block heater in: Neither did a damn thing.
... if you're not already cringing ... please keep reading ...
In my totally un-educated opinion, the problem seems like it should be something to do with a short around the steering column - but then there was also the remote start (in the truck when I bought it) that fried my starter and alternator (remote starter was sending through a constant charge to the starter from a crummy install) that I had removed in 2007 and without any issues until 2009. The starter and alternator were replaced w/ new (not re-mfg'd) parts in '07. I can`t help thinking that maybe it`s just a matter of a failed piece of electrical tape left over from the removal of that damn remote starter ...
Any how, to make a long story longer ...
I decided to start simple and remove the drivers side lower dash cowling looking for the obvious. Maybe a bare wire ... a short of some kind ... ??? ... I dunno. At that point, the battery was still connected and the key was sitting on the passenger seat.
I popped the dash bolts, gently jimmy'd the dash cowling free, then realized I needed to use the ladies room. I come back out a few minutes later and I hear a "whirring" noise coming from the passenger's side as I approach the truck and the key is still on the seat. This is new!
The noise is hard to locate, it's not low enough to be the starter. It seems to be coming from behind the glovebox area and it's hard (for me) to tell which side of the firewall it's coming from - I'm leaning towards engine side right at the glove box level. Although, I'm not wanting to let it go long before I disconnect the battery since I haven't a clue what the heck is going on and would rather not `fry` anything else- I do take about 15 seconds to look & listen. I couldn't see anything obvious at a glance, so I tried putting the key in the ignition - that stopped the "whirr". I take the key out, whirr starts again after about 4 seconds. Again, for pure sport, I hit the horn: All I get is some wounded sound ... I wanted to pop the steering column (horn) cover, but was afraid that I`d deploy the air bag.
I ended up just disconnecting the battery and coming back into the house to do some further research and to write this monster post.
I am hoping that I've possibly provided enough valid information (and probably gone over-board) to maybe get some insight.
I appreciate any help ... and yes, I know ... I should just take my truck to a qualified mechanic and if anyone knows of someone that can actually help in Grey County, please IM me their contact info.
Vehicle: 1999 GMC SONONA HIGHRIDER (maintained and in good shape).
Problem: An intermittent starting issue which is almost possible to describe, so please bear with me ... this is very long.
I noticed last November that when I put the key in the ignition that the fuel gauge (just the fuel gauge) would move ever so slightly. Sometimes you'd turn the key and just get a 'clicking' noise, but usually if you just tried to restart the truck again, it would work on the third or fourth try. Then the problem dissapeared entirely for several weeks. Then a new problem popped up along with Problem#1 returning; After the truck started it was fine until I went to back out the garage and turned the wheel. At that point, every dash light would light up for a second, all the gagues would jump and the truck would just shut off. No sputter, just "OFF". Much like turning the key and getting the clicking noise, this problem was also very intermittant - we'll call it Problem#2. The truck would start again just fine after with doing nothing other than turning the key.
After several weeks I noticed that when I put the truck into Park after backing out of my garage (got to get out to shut the garage door) that my headlights wouldn't shut off right away. The headlight thing, unlike Problem#1 & #2, was fairly consistant - almost daily; whereas Probs #1 & #2 were totally hit and miss. Then the truck would be perfectly fine for weeks on end. Something else possibly noteworthy about #1 & #2 is that this only ever happened in the morning. It never happened any other time up until about a month ago - then I had Prob#1 pop up one day when leaving work. Over the last few weeks Problem#1 has been getting progressively worse (Problem #2 never did re-appear) and none of the mechanics I've taken it too over the last several months have been able to find the root of the problem.
I towed it home this past Friday and figured I'd give a shot at trying to find the problem (or at least narrow it down) myself. I've been told it's the starter, the battery, the transmission safety switch, the ignition, the water pump, solar flares, gremlins, the loch ness monster ...
At the point I towed it home yesterday, when you put the key in and turned you'd get all sorts of weird things going on and none of them consistant. The only consistant thing was that the truck wouldn't start. At that point, all I'd ever done with the truck myself was jiggle some wires around the battery and-or starter area and talk to it nicely - usually that worked, as did slamming the hood apparently. As mentioned, it's been to several different mechanics, including a GM dealer, but none o them actually "did" anyhing to the truck. Last visit was late May.
The "weird things" consisted of: Turning the key, hearing the fuel pump kick in, then turn key to start and click. Putting the key in, having all the gagues jump, then turn the key and nothing, then turing to start and clicking. Other times you'd put the key in and nothing would happen - turn and nothing, or turn and clicking. You could just put the key in, stand away doing nothing and suddenly the dash gagues would jump. Then you'd turn the key and everything would light up just like it shoud, turn again to start and everything would die ... the damn thing is making me nuts.
If you've read through thus far, I thank you. From my user ID, it's obvious that I'm female, so I'll start w/ the painfully obvious and work my way through to where I am at now since towing it home yesterday:
- the battery has full charge and is connected (correctly).
- I've pulled both battery leads and removed all corrosion (there was very little).
- Battery posts are solid and fine.
- I inspected (for what it's worth) all visible wiring (pre-dash removal) and cannot see anything out of order.
- Pulled the starter leads and cleaned away the corrosion (again, very little).
- I've tested the starter and it's getting power.
- I've removed the starter and bench tested it - it's perfectly fine.
- For pure and utter sport, I tried boosting it w/ my charger and also plugged the block heater in: Neither did a damn thing.
... if you're not already cringing ... please keep reading ...
In my totally un-educated opinion, the problem seems like it should be something to do with a short around the steering column - but then there was also the remote start (in the truck when I bought it) that fried my starter and alternator (remote starter was sending through a constant charge to the starter from a crummy install) that I had removed in 2007 and without any issues until 2009. The starter and alternator were replaced w/ new (not re-mfg'd) parts in '07. I can`t help thinking that maybe it`s just a matter of a failed piece of electrical tape left over from the removal of that damn remote starter ...
Any how, to make a long story longer ...
I decided to start simple and remove the drivers side lower dash cowling looking for the obvious. Maybe a bare wire ... a short of some kind ... ??? ... I dunno. At that point, the battery was still connected and the key was sitting on the passenger seat.
I popped the dash bolts, gently jimmy'd the dash cowling free, then realized I needed to use the ladies room. I come back out a few minutes later and I hear a "whirring" noise coming from the passenger's side as I approach the truck and the key is still on the seat. This is new!
The noise is hard to locate, it's not low enough to be the starter. It seems to be coming from behind the glovebox area and it's hard (for me) to tell which side of the firewall it's coming from - I'm leaning towards engine side right at the glove box level. Although, I'm not wanting to let it go long before I disconnect the battery since I haven't a clue what the heck is going on and would rather not `fry` anything else- I do take about 15 seconds to look & listen. I couldn't see anything obvious at a glance, so I tried putting the key in the ignition - that stopped the "whirr". I take the key out, whirr starts again after about 4 seconds. Again, for pure sport, I hit the horn: All I get is some wounded sound ... I wanted to pop the steering column (horn) cover, but was afraid that I`d deploy the air bag.
I ended up just disconnecting the battery and coming back into the house to do some further research and to write this monster post.
I am hoping that I've possibly provided enough valid information (and probably gone over-board) to maybe get some insight.
I appreciate any help ... and yes, I know ... I should just take my truck to a qualified mechanic and if anyone knows of someone that can actually help in Grey County, please IM me their contact info.