Spent about an hour searching this forum but didn't find anything directly applicable to this.

My neighbor/friend has a 2010 Expi EL, 30K miles that has developed a very strange problem. After driving for a while (30 minutes or more), stopping and shutting the Expi off, the Expi will not start again. Won't even crank. If you let the Expi sit for 30 minutes or so, it will start and run fine. Runs fine until you shut it off. When it will not start/crank, everything else electrical seems to work fine. Battery checks fine. Been in the dealership 2 times now. Several modules replaced, each time the dealership says they 'found it'.

But, no such luck. I went with my friend to pick up the Expi and listened to the explanation of what was wrong. To me, the dealership doesn't sound like they have a clue what the problem is, they couldn't answer a few questions I asked about fuel delivery. Last module replaced had to do with the transmission. My friend drove it home, about 40 minute drive and once again, it wouldn't start after it was shut off. We let it sit for an hour or so and it fired right up.

Needless to say, my friend is not a happy camper. I suggested he go to a different dealer which he is considering. I thought I would pose the problem here for any input of what this could be. Since it seems to be 'running time' dependent, I suspect a heat issue. It takes a while for the fault to occur, and after sitting when the problem occurs, it disappears. Heat related? Strange thing is, you can drive it and everything is fine as long as you don't shut it off. Then you have to wait for about half hour to resolve the issue.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Woodie

 

check for power down at the starter motor see if it is getting power. when their is a heat issue you have expansion something that is normally cold heats up and can cause bad or no connection fairly common when a starter motor is failing internally. beings this is a no crank no start this is about the simplest place to start since it only happens when its hot this will give you direction as to were to look and what to test.

 

Thanks carguy

I passed the suggestion along to my friend and I think he asked the dealership if they had checked the starter. Will post here with any results.

Woodie

 

Using the "SWAG" system. What pops into my mind is the starter solenoid. But that would be one of the first things to look at. Seen that before on older vehicles, where the solenoid would not work when hot.

 

Quick update

The dealership finally figured it out. The wiring harness and module from the transmission was faulty when hot. Basically, the module or wiring were not indicating the truck was in 'Park' and would not engage the starter. Why it took this long to find it is very strange, but the truck is working correctly now.

Woodie

Update.... Because it too so long for the dealer to figure this out, and my friend was taking a family vacation and had to tow his Airstream trailer, he purchased a new Suburban. So, he had to sell the Expi when he finally got it back from the dealer. Guess who the new owner is.... Yep, me Have driven it for several days with no issues, it is still under an extended warranty, etc. Beautiful truck, love the way it rides and is much quieter than my '05. My son wants my '05 (he also took my original '97 which still runs fine after almost 200K miles) and thought he needed an upgrade. As he put it, he knows the history of the truck and it has had a pampered life in my garage.