subgeniuschick
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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.
Problem: An intermittent starting issue which is almost impossible to describe, so please bear with me ... this is very long.
I noticed late Novemeber passed, that when I put the key in the ignition that the fuel gauge (just the fuel gauge) would jump ever so slightly. Sometimes you'd turn the key and just get a 'clicking' noise. Usually if you just tried to restart the truck again, it would work on the third or fourth try. Then the problem disappeared entirely for many 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 indicator would light up for a second, all the gauges 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 intermittent - we'll call it Problem#2. The truck would start again just fine after with doing nothing other than turning the key.
as an aside: I also 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 didn`t turnoff right away which they always use to as soon as I put the truck into Park. The headlight thing, unlike Problem#1 & #2, was fairly consistent - almost daily; whereas Probs #1 & #2 were totally hit and miss. Then the truck would be perfectly fine for weeks on end, then go through a stint of Probs #1 & #2 again ... then be fine ... rinse and repeat. This went on until early April.
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 Friday, when you put the key in and turned you'd get all sorts of weird things going on and none of them consistent. The only consistent 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 gauges jump, then turn the key and nothing, then turning 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 gauges would jump. Then you'd turn the key and everything would light up just like it should, 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 sounds buried and muted, not low enough (vertically) to be the starter and it's coming from inside the cab. Although, I'm not wanting to let it go too long before I disconnect the battery since I haven't a clue what the heck is going on and would rather not `fry` anything - 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 2 seconds. I ended up tracking it down to whatever the heck it is that I've taken a picture of below. So, I've disconnected it.
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 a lot of drivel) 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 the Grey County area, please IM me their contact info.
What is this? It's under the dash just to the top left of where the glove-box would be if I hadn't of removed it.
Problem: An intermittent starting issue which is almost impossible to describe, so please bear with me ... this is very long.
I noticed late Novemeber passed, that when I put the key in the ignition that the fuel gauge (just the fuel gauge) would jump ever so slightly. Sometimes you'd turn the key and just get a 'clicking' noise. Usually if you just tried to restart the truck again, it would work on the third or fourth try. Then the problem disappeared entirely for many 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 indicator would light up for a second, all the gauges 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 intermittent - we'll call it Problem#2. The truck would start again just fine after with doing nothing other than turning the key.
as an aside: I also 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 didn`t turnoff right away which they always use to as soon as I put the truck into Park. The headlight thing, unlike Problem#1 & #2, was fairly consistent - almost daily; whereas Probs #1 & #2 were totally hit and miss. Then the truck would be perfectly fine for weeks on end, then go through a stint of Probs #1 & #2 again ... then be fine ... rinse and repeat. This went on until early April.
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 Friday, when you put the key in and turned you'd get all sorts of weird things going on and none of them consistent. The only consistent 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 gauges jump, then turn the key and nothing, then turning 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 gauges would jump. Then you'd turn the key and everything would light up just like it should, 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 sounds buried and muted, not low enough (vertically) to be the starter and it's coming from inside the cab. Although, I'm not wanting to let it go too long before I disconnect the battery since I haven't a clue what the heck is going on and would rather not `fry` anything - 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 2 seconds. I ended up tracking it down to whatever the heck it is that I've taken a picture of below. So, I've disconnected it.
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 a lot of drivel) 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 the Grey County area, please IM me their contact info.
What is this? It's under the dash just to the top left of where the glove-box would be if I hadn't of removed it.