Major (possibly) electrical issues

madmikeismad

madmikeismad

So mad
Joined
Dec 19, 2009
Messages
14,347
(Starting a new thread because it's no longer related to just the starter)

I've been having starter issues on and off for a while now. Thought I had it fixed for the last few months and then yesterday the starter just wouldn't spin unless I shorted it. That mixed with a frozen battery was just hell.

I got a new battery, the truck starts just fine now, but I still have to jump it at the starter. With the optima it actually fires faster than it ever has.

I think I have bigger problems though.

Now when I turn the truck on:
1. The blower motor runs for 3 seconds and shuts off. will not turn back on until I turn key off and try again.
2. The ABS and Airbag lights are on.
3. The shut off solenoid won't go up on it's own, I have to push it up with my hand. But when I shut the truck off it snaps down like normal.
4. Starter still won't crank with the key.

I tried swapping relays around, no luck.


If you have the slightest clue what the problem is, please throw it out there. I'll try anything. This is back to my DD for now, and I can't be crawling under the truck to start it every time, and I really need the defroster this week. Feel free to pm me too so I get the email faster. Or those with my number call me.
 
bad ground from the starter swap? i know that was an issue i had with my shutdown solenoid that acted the same.
 
Do you have a ratchet shifter? A few times my starter would not crank so i held the key in the start position and moved the shifter from park to around neutral and it starts.
 
Lostnwalmart said:
bad ground from the starter swap? i know that was an issue i had with my shutdown solenoid that acted the same.
Click to expand...

How would you fix that though? I didn't remove any grounds when removing the starter.

DieselheaD said:
Do you have a ratchet shifter? A few times my starter would not crank so i held the key in the start position and moved the shifter from park to around neutral and it starts.
Click to expand...

Yes, but I've already accounted for that.

The dash won't even dim when key is turned forward
blower motor only works for 3 seconds then shuts off until truck is restarted
airbag light is on
ABS light is on
shutoff solenoid won't go up on it's own
starter only works when shorted
 
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Bad ignition switch?

Check steering column for pinched/shorted wires
 
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It could if its not powering the abs on and the pcm is looking for it. Does the blower work in the aux switch position?
 
Try and find where your key on source is coming from the switch to see if the switch is sending power out. All three of the things you said don't work come on with the key
 
DISTURBED said:
Try and find where your key on source is coming from the switch to see if the switch is sending power out. All three of the things you said don't work come on with the key
Click to expand...

I am way too dumb to figure out what you just said.

also now the regular brake light is on, no Speedo, no over drive or lock up, and the mirror heaters don't work.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
 
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Pull a relay that has a key on wire feeding it. Turn on the key and see if the wire has 12v. should be a 1 12v wire with key off and 2 with the key on. Does it have a abs relay if so use it. I'm also trying to remember if all this runs through the pcm but I don't think it does
 
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That sucks! I'm chasing electrical BS on my POS truck as well. Blower only randomly works, had a random voltage spike a while ago, and today the grid heaters stuck on somehow and killed my new battery. ****!

I'll be watching this.
 
DISTURBED said:
Pull a relay that has a key on wire feeding it. Turn on the key and see if the wire has 12v. should be a 1 12v wire with key off and 2 with the key on. Does it have a abs relay if so use it. I'm also trying to remember if all this runs through the pcm but I don't think it does
Click to expand...

I was actually hoping it would be the computer because I happen to have a spare one.

I've never had the steering column apart and i really don't ever want to LOL. it just sounds painful.

I'll find a voltmeter and try to check this tomorrow.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
 
I posted my thoughts in your battery thread..... It worked on my parents truck....
 
I think its part ignition and part neutral safety switch. The starter and fuel solenoid will not work unless the truck knows that its in park or neutral. The ignition is the rest of your problem I believe, I also had problems in my 98 where the harness wraps around the column tightly... something to look at
 
If the shifter has a generic switch on it that just uses 2 wires. Just hook the wires together to bypass the switch and see if it starts and acts normal.
 
So a consolidated list:

The dash won't dim when key is turned forward
Blower motor only works for 1 second then shut off until the key is cycled off and on again
Reverse lights only work for 1 second then shut off until the key is cycled off and on again.
No heated mirrors
Airbag light is on
ABS light is on
Brake light is on
Shutoff solenoid won't go up on it's own
Starter only works when shorted
Speedo doesn work
No over drive
No lock up

I'm really starting to think its the computer.
 
Is there a way to test the computer? If I plug a scan tool into it, will it come up with some kind of error or something?
 
This problem almost sounds like bad secondary grounds such as the ones off the batteries down to the bumper extension supports. . For giggles check the secondary grounds including the static ground to the PCM.
 
MAXTORQ said:
This problem almost sounds like bad secondary grounds such as the ones off the batteries down to the bumper extension supports. . For giggles check the secondary grounds including the static ground to the PCM.
Click to expand...

If all this really does turn into a bad ground, I'd be so happy. Just curious what would make it happen so suddenly like this. The truck was literally running perfect not 8 hours before.
 
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