No crankie crankie... New battery a couple of weeks ago, not the issue

[No Tyme]

You might say I got real lucky today... drove to Ann Arbor today some 35 miles up the road and back before this started.
I know it's not the battery, it's new and I have very bright lights and all:
Went out tonight to do a taco run and with a twist of the key "nothing"... I can hear the dash gauges doing something like a reset or something. Headlights don't dim, no clicking and no Crankie.
Now I first want to add that I always thought the ignition was a bit weird on my TB... Just bump the key and she continues to turnover until the engine would start. My 14 Silverado does this also but not sure if this is suppose to be the way the ignition switch works in an 06 Trailblazer.
It was dark out so I just locked the door and jumped in the truck, but the problem will most likely be there in the morning.
I tried moving the emergency brake lever, in and out of park to neutral and back, but still no crankie...
I am going to look into the manuals that are on this site but my first thought is possible corrosion on battery cable at starter, or bad starter... solenoid is under there somewhere...
Oh, I have an IL 6 automatic.
Anybody want to chime in on any other things to look at? What about this theft deterrent system?

 

[Mounce]

Bump key = start is normal operation.

Have you checked the cables to make sure they're tight?

 

[Sparky]

As mentioned, the bump key start thing is normal. Nice feature IMO. I sometimes look like an idiot when I go to start my 99 Camaro as it doesn't have that and I sometimes bump the key and just get a short groan from it lol.

Try starting in neutral to rule out a gear safety switch issue.

Other than that, it very well could be a starter. You could put a test light on the solenoid and turn the key. If the test light glows then you know you've got juice to trigger the starter.

That's what happened to mine. It was fine, then... nothing. I got it to start by whacking the side with a hammer a few times and drove it home to switch cars for the rest of the day, and picked up a starter the next morning.

 

[littleblazer]

Could also be the starter relay in the fuse box... voy did it a few weeks ago. A few taps on the relay and she fired up.

 

[Mooseman]

Before condemning the starter, there are a few tests to do. Check this thread out, which wound up ultimately being a dead starter:
http://gmtnation.com/forums/threads/crank-no-start-fixed.14693

Ignition switch is also a possible suspect.

 

[jpinoy]

This sounds similar to what happened to me a while back. The gauges would seem to be resetting(dropping down when turning the key) and nothing from the starter(noise of any sort). Every turn of the key, it seemed my gauges were calibrating.

Turned out, I blew Fuse 22 in my Fuse block in the engine compartment. Fuse 22 = Ignition E(that's how it reads in my manual)..

 

[roughtony]

It may be a bad solenoid.

 

[No Tyme]

First I must thank you all for your responses... I did get the TB running. Just not quite sure what it was.

First I jumped into the cab and inserted the key, and tried to turn the engine over and then remembered I disconnected the battery last night. I read somewhere that by disconnecting the cable for a while might reset something... I went to pull the key out and could not get the ignition to return to the off position... stayed in acc position I believe.
I next opened the hood and popped off the fuse block cover and checked fuse #22. It looked fine so I reinstall it. I then connected the negative battery cable and cleaned off my hands from the corrosion retardant I place on the battery terminals when I installed the new battery.
I then sat down in the cab and tried to start the truck because all the lights were back on and "I got some Crankie"...
After giving my hands a good cleaning I tried again to start the truck and she started right up, No Codes, No lights on the dash... and I never did see any type of security light on the dash today or yesterday when trying to start it.
So, what did I do to fix it? I don't know...
I am going to go back thru the owners manual to see if there is some sort of security light that I overlooked... I believe all dash lights come on when the ignition is turned on as a check thing the truck does. But for now the truck is running and I have no clue what I did to fix the issue...

 

[No Tyme]

I did drive and shut down several time this eve and had no issues with the TB... I'm just stumped on what was wrong. I did see a padlock like light on the dash lit up with the twist of the key. I know the light works but no codes and no lights...

 

[Mooseman]

That would indicate an issue with the Passlock. It should go out after a few seconds after turning the key. Our trucks (except the 9-7x) don't have a chip in the key but uses a sensor in the key cylinder to detect tampering. There's either an issue with that sensor or the BCM. Or possibly you need to redo the security relearn for the PCM.

 

[No Tyme]

Well, 35 miles from home the Trailblazer did it again, NO CRANKIE!

I did buy a couple of tools at the local gas station and disconnected the negative battery post for 15 minutes. Still no crank.
I left it sitting in a parking lot, local garage will tow it tomorrow if there is anything left to it.
Not very happy with the TB... When a vehicle leaves me stranded I start looking for alternatives.

 

[No Tyme]

Wish I would have found this video yesterday...

 

[Mooseman]

Was it the relay?

 

[littleblazer]

Could also be the starter relay in the fuse box... voy did it a few weeks ago. A few taps on the relay and she fired up.

Wish I would have found this video yesterday...

Only kidding. I forgot about that video lol. I try to link may's videos when I can.

 

[No Tyme]

Was it the relay?

As of now I am not sure. If I would have found that video I would have more ideas to explore...but I called a hook and there going to tow to the garage and track it down.
The electronics on these new vehicles are something else. I'm just not electronically inclined.
Now it's wait and see...

 

[No Tyme]

**UPDATE** I just spoke with the garage that towed in the TB and the driver told me since he had the key he jumped in the TB and it fired right up. So the issue seems to be that she will only start when she wants to LOL. If it does not crank when you turn the key, wait a day and she may start.
TB in the shop, with holidays and all it will be next week before I know anything more, most likely...

 

[No Tyme]

Got a call this morning, and the Trailblazer needs a new starter... I told them to go ahead and install a new on since it is in a crazy place and not easy to get at. Done maybe tomorrow and the cost of the tow and replacement GM starter (don't want aftermarket) is between 6 and 7 hundred.

 

[Sparky]

Ouch!
I got one from Advance Auto a few years ago when mine quit. Not the easiest thing to get to, but I got it from the top. Good thing I have long (and skinny) arms.

 

[No Tyme]

After reading of precisely that I decided to let the garage fellows do it... besides I had to have it towed so no use having to pay for 2 tows if I couldn't find the fix myself.
They put in a Genuine GM starter which they said they have had excellent luck with... even if and aftermarket starter carried a warranty, if I had to change it once or twice to get a good one, I would be out all the labor charges myself.
My bill ended up being just short of $620... Merry Xmas to me!