Truck won't start. Please help!

[mubai]

OK, so here's what's happening:

Saturday: Replaced ignition switch, everything went smooth started right up.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday: Started normal and drove fine.
Wednesday (today):
1. Remote unlock didn't work
2. Used the key to open the door
3. No interior lights
4. Key went in and got nothing trying to turn over (No acc. lights, no clicking, nothing...)
5. Checked the battery. Multimeter says 8.32V (I disconnected the battery and took the reading from inside the threads)
6. Car charger works
7. This might be nothing, but I drove from Baltimore back home (Philly) and during the last 3 miles I smelled something burning. It was a weird smell, but I didn't know if it was my truck or just the neighborhood or another car.
8. When I turned the key to "on" I couldn't shift into any gears. I needed to back out my truck out of the driveway, b/c we have a tandem driveway to get my wife's car out. I ended up pulling an Austin Powers (Austin Powers - Three Point Turn - YouTube) then drove my wife's car through my yard onto my neighbor's driveway.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

183,000 miles, original alternator and starter.

 

[The_Roadie]

How old is the battery? Can you take it for testing?

When you charge it, does the engine start? What is the voltage at the battery then? When you stop the engine, what is the battery voltage measured every 5 minutes for the next hour? Suspecting a bad battery or a huge parasitic drain.

 

[MAY03LT]

With a reading of 8.32v the battery should be replaced. How old was the battery? And why was the ignition switch replaced?

 

[mubai]

Hey Guys,

OK, here's what I did:

Jumped it and got it started, drove to PepBoys to get the battery/alt. checked out. 1 hour wait, so I decided to leave and come back. Truck wouldn't start, tried to jump it with their battery pack and it didn't work. So, I ended up pulling the battery out to see how old it was: 7 years old!! I got a new battery and installed it and all good. The guys at PepBoys were cool and let me borrow some tools.

Just strange it died all of suddenly, but I guess it wasn't too sudden. I noticed that it had a little difficulty turning over and I thought the ignition switch was going bad, so that's why I replaced it. Then either I wanted to believe it was better or it was a little better with the new ignition switch.

I ended up getting a $16 credit, b/c the battery was 3 years free replacement and pro-rated for 96 months. 94F with no shade and had to replace the battery, only good part was, if I was going to be stuck, being stuck in front of an auto parts store is probably the best place.

Anyway, thanks for the help guys!!!!

What up MAY03LT - sent you an email about my subwoofer ripping. Looking for a new one.

 

[The_Roadie]

I noticed that it had a little difficulty turning over and I thought the ignition switch was going bad, so that's why I replaced it.

If it fails to spin the starter AT ALL, the ignition switch can be a suspect. As can the starter relay, wiring, and the starter itself. But the ignition switch can't cause sluggish starts or slow cranking.

Thanks for the report. 7 years. Didn't owe you a thing.

 

[mubai]

If it fails to spin the starter AT ALL, the ignition switch can be a suspect. As can the starter relay, wiring, and the starter itself. But the ignition switch can't cause sluggish starts or slow cranking.

Awesome...I guess if it fails to spin the starter, now I'm down to 3 possibilities.

Thanks for the report. 7 years. Didn't owe you a thing.

Oh but it did pay me $16....

Did I mention it's freaking hot outside!!!

 

[MAY03LT]

Just strange it died all of suddenly, but I guess it wasn't too sudden.

That's one heck of a coincidence. There have been reports of weird things happening after an ignition switch replacement, mostly due to the gear being incorrectly aligned. Personally, even if I knew the battery was bad, I would record the key off draw for peace of mind. Or, you'll find out yourself in a few days, even if you don't want to.

What up MAY03LT - sent you an email about my subwoofer ripping. Looking for a new one.

I just checked, I gots nothing. And your on my VIP list.

Feel free to PM me here.

 

[mubai]

I would record the key off draw for peace of mind. Or, you'll find out yourself in a few days, even if you don't want to.

I don't know what that means.

I just checked, I gots nothing. And your on my VIP list. Feel free to PM me here.

Uh yeah, I just checked again and I can't find an email to you. I thought I sent it to your yahoo account. Anyway, I'll email you later, "gotta Break to the crib change my clothes once more, Cause i'm invited to a barbeque that's starting at 4." BTW, I've been driving from Philly to Baltimore for a new project I'm on, I'll tell you about that too.

 

[The_Roadie]

Awesome...I guess if it fails to spin the starter, now I'm down to 3 possibilities.

Yah, but since you own a meter, it's about a 10 minute job to troubleshoot. And you *do* carry a spare starter relay so it's trivial to swap that as the first experiment?

 

[MAY03LT]

I don't know what that means.

Says the man who not only owns, but uses, a meter for troubleshooting.

Basically it means checking for excessive draw with the key off. Even without checking, if the truck had/has it, you will know.

 

[The_Roadie]

Says the man who not only owns, but uses, a meter for troubleshooting.

Basically it means checking for excessive draw with the key off. Even without checking, if the truck had/has it, you will know.

As hinted at in my post #2, sentence #5. We don't post these ideas to make you jump through hoops for no reason, although it *is* sometimes fun to send noobs on a snipe hunt. On other forums, not here.....

 

[MAY03LT]

We don't post these ideas to make you jump through hoops for no reason

Yep. It's not just replace the battery, it's let's find out why it died. While the battery was overdue for a replacement, there may be an underlying issue.

 

[mubai]

Oh my god, you guys make me feel like I failed my test. I'm going to blame the heat for not checking the draw with the key off. OK, do-over. I'll check tomorrow.

As extra points, I did clean the throttle body and did not disconnect the battery; only removed the PCM fuses.

 

[MAY03LT]

Oh my god, you guys make me feel like I failed my test.

You passed when you posted the battery voltage.

Besides, reading our nitpicking for a definitive solution has to be better then reading that your truck has a lot of miles, might have a short, might need an alt, and has an electric transmission (wtf lol).

 

[Sparky]

Honestly, if the battery died and was 7 years old I would have just replaced it too without any second thought. I wouldn't have thought to test key-off load simply because the battery is old and failure isn't unexpected.

 

[mubai]

Besides, reading our nitpicking for a definitive solution has to be better then reading that your truck has a lot of miles, might have a short, might need an alt, and has an electric transmission (wtf lol).

Busted! Haha! I guess you saw that!

BTW, the PCM fuse trick was from your video!

 

[mubai]

And you *do* carry a spare starter relay so it's trivial to swap that as the first experiment?

Uh yeah, who doesn't carry an spare starter relay. So, for other members on this forum just to educate them wink, what would be the part number of that relay?

 

[Sparky]

I do believe it is written on top of the relay itself. Or you can just go to Autozone and ask for one, they have them.

 

[The_Roadie]

Oh, I *so* much wanted to do one of my "Teach the guy how to fish instead of giving him a fish..." answers.

Rockauto has a list of alternatives. So does lmgtfy.com. Actually, the answer to all things is at lmgtfy.com. :wootwoot:

 

[mubai]

I'm looking it up now:
View attachment 21694

 

[The_Roadie]

That guy can have five fish, three spare relays, AND a radar detector hidden in those folds.

 

[strat81]

Excessive heat (such as that which much of the country is experiencing these days) is just as rough on a battery, if not rougher, as cold weather is.

 

[MAY03LT]

Busted! Haha! I guess you saw that!

I go there when I need a good chuckle.

 

[mubai]

Voltage reading 12.8v this morning. Sat unstarted for 12 hours. The terminal bolt ends are a little corroded so the reading may be off a bit, meaning I didn't disconnect the battery.

 

[Sparky]

That sounds fine. Start OK?

 

[mubai]

That sounds fine. Start OK?

Perfectly, feels new again. Also, seems quieter after cleaning the TB.


However, I did not do an SPL before or after.