Don't you hate it when your out in the middle of nowhere and you get back to the truck and it wont start. Grrrrr...

So I would turn the key and nothing, but still had plenty of juice in the battery. It acted like the it was still in drive when you turned the key, but I tried neutral and park and still got nothing. Started trying to figure out how far of a walk it was to get some help, but then I decided I would put it in neutral and push it a few feet and then put it back in park and KABAM it started. Got it back to town and all seems to work great.

I still think I was right about it thinking it was not out of gear but not really sure where to start looking at this. Anybody else had anything happen like this???

 

New one. I don't know why pushing it a few feet would of helped anything in automatic.

 

This whole trip has been a mess. I have driven all over the country with my family on vacations and have never had so many issues. On the way up to Colorado the axle on my trailer broke and the tire and spindle passed me going down the highway. Yesterday my Polaris rzr started leaking oil and got hot up in the mountains and then today the truck issue.

 

Sounds like one of the days my son has had recently. Started with his boat, then trailer, etc.. Hope you have know more problems.

 

I suspect the push was a coincidence, and the shifting was the trick. You may have a couple of loose bolts on the steering column, the ones that secure the shift cable. I've also had a loose connector on the transmission do this.

 

If it catches u again, raise the hood and bypass the fender mounted starter solenoid and see if it will crank.

 

Well it left me stranded again today. I pushed and rocked the heck out of it today with no luck. I was six miles from the highway up a mountain road. Did not think about the solenoid on the fender. I have already sent a tow truck to get it and will look at it in the morning.

I gotta get this going I am a 1000 miles from home and this is no fun.

 

1000 miles? where u at? Someone might be able to lend a hand

 

Are you getting power to the instrument cluster? I just had this exact same problem on my camping trip last week. Thought I was going to have to hike 12 miles out to get cell phone reception and call a tow truck. Then I found the problem, the power cable coming from the battery to the fuse box had backed off literally 1/4 turn. It was enough that I was getting juice to some components but not a full 12v. I tightened it down snug and bam; everything was fine. I will be putting locktite on that nut before the next road trip.

 

Well after a $600 tow to town it started right up. Once it started I went and loaded my stuff up and headed for home. Did not turn it off till I got home last night. Wish I would have thought about that relay being on the fender before I had it towed.

Anyway I did get it to fail at home today and can start it everytime by touching the two posts on the relay. I still need to test for voltage and the small wire on the relay when the key is turned. Hopefully I an post a resolution soon.

 

So I did test the small post on the relay and no matter if it turns over or does not turn over it is getting 12+ volts when the key is turned to the start position so I think that eliminates the key switch and the gear shifter. Next I am going to take the connections off at the starter and clean them and/or replace the fender mounted solenoid.

 

I believe the problem has been solved!!!! I ended up replacing the solenoid on the fender and have not been able to make it fail. It was weird how it was just randomly working and not. I hope all is good now.

Thanks for all the help from everybody

 

You had a busy day yesterday. Great job, and congratulations! Thanks for reporting back.

 

Apologies for the post - I'm certain this has been explained umpteen-million times - but I believe I have a starter issue.

Perhaps superfluous information but I've used my 2002 F250 to jump start my 1990 Westy with a parasitic draw perhaps 10 times the past 2 weeks. I noticed that the last couple of times that I tried to start the F250 that it was sluggish starting but would still start. Today it would try and crank but sounded as if the batteries were going dead. Now it won't start. Tried to jump with another vehicle and this had zero impact. Now, nothing to\from the starter. There was never any clicking from the starter. All internal dash and lights work fine.

I checked the voltage and both batteries are in the 12.5 range and +10 when starting. Puzzled, I took them to a local shop to test and the both have 850 amps. I'm assuming now that the starter is bad. Is this an accurate assumption?

Thinking that it was I called to Napa and I guess there are 3 different brands.
Can someone please post a pic as to where I find the starter and see what brand I have (and I guess ultimately replace it....)? I tried tracing one of many hot lines from the passenger battery. Looked under and over, but no luck. I need to get horses somewhere so would like to resolve somewhat quickly. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

JB

 

I assume u cleaned the battery posts when u put them back on. The only other thing to try is to put in neutral and see if it will crank. you have a 2002 so no starter solenoid to jump on yours. There i a connection on the passenger fender behind battery in its place that is one wire that i think is either orange or yellow that sends the current to the starter solenoid.

I do not have pictures, but the starter is located on the passenger side of the engine where it meets the transmission. Most are 2 bolts. Occasionally there are 3 bolts. It does not matter what brand you have. Any kind will work. Aftermarket starters are hit and miss wherever you get them as far as reliability.