Re: [A/S] Re: help from Suburban owners starter problem

["Kimm H. Flatt" <ibflatt@xxxxxxxxx>]

If the starter is not turning over (spinning):

1. The dealership will probably cost you too much, and
not find your answer.  A lot of the time, they will
not road test, and your problem may be somewhat
connected to travel.

a.  You really need to know if you are getting signal
to the starter.  Easiest way to find out.  Get a small
12 volt light with pigtale.  Aftermarket dash light or
license plate light, something simple.   There is a
small wire attached to the starter selonid (sp).  That
wire activates the starter.  Run a wire from that,
inside the vehicle.  Connect it to the light, then
from the light, to ground.

When you turn the key, it will light, if the starter
is getting signal from your key switch.  
   If yes; buy a really good aftermarket starter, or
go to a starter alternator shop that rebuilds them,
and have it rebuilt.

   If no.  You will have to follow the wire back to
the starter switch, to find the location of the break,
short, or corrosion, that is stopping your signal. 
Write me off line, and I can give you wire color codes
and locations.
Simple checks:  When turning the key, listen for a
click from the starter.  If it clicks; replace
starter.
When turning the key, hold the key in the start
position against the spring return.  Move your shift
lever.  Also, try starting it in Neurtal.  Same thing;
hold key in start position againt the spring return
while moving the shift lever.  If any of these work,
faulty or loose Neutral Safety Switch.

If it's the neutral safety or a flaky relay, an old
trick is to run a wire from the fuse box, or even from
the 'cigarette' lighter (which in your vehicle is
always hot) to a spring loaded switch.  (Wally world
or best, some auto parts store.  I like the big chrome
push button)  Then run the wire down to the starter
seloniod.  When you push the button, the starter will
spin.

If the starter is spinning:

You have other problems.
Start with the 'wiggle test'.  While someone is
holding the key in the start position, carefully start
wiggling wires and wire looms.

Will it start when the vehicle is cold?  Reading your
story, kind of sounded like it did.  Once the engine
compartment cooled off, it would start, again.  Can be
corrosion inside the vinal wire coating.  Can be a
loose wire at the starter or at the battery.  The
original battery on that vehicle is a side post.  The
cheaper batteries will get warm and leak at the post
bolt.  It will corrode the wires.  Check the red wire
(accessory wire) that runs across the radiator to the
battery.  See if it is brittle and has turned brown or
black, at the battery.  If so; resistance.  I have
changed all my side post mountings to top post
mountings.  Or you can get AGM batteries.

Need more; write me off line...

Kimm