starting my truck?

Question

turn key all i get is a click, battery is ok all my lights are bright and cd player works and all, i believe it is the starter, i drive a chevy but put a ford starter solenoid due to headers, what can i do to check and see if it is the starter,(don't say go out and buy one and test) and what are some other possible solutions to my problem

the reason why u put a ford starter is because u can mount it else where, so when u have headers u will not mess up ur starter (due to heat)if u move the starter solenoid on the fender, and it has started before

put a ford starter sol. is a normal practice for the people who didn't know, they sell a kit for chevys on jegs called sol. kit which consist of wires and a ford starter sol.

for the people who keep bringing up ford starter and how it doesn't work ur wrong, they sell kits that convert chevy to ford, u still have a chevy starter but the solenoid is in a different location,yes u can put a heat shield on the starter but it moving the solenoid is 100% better, u will still mess up a solenoid with a heat sheild if u have headers

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061220091749AA42vLu

Answer 1

it's most likely the solenoid...that's cheap...replace it

Answer 2

With the exception of having a ford solenoid on it, I would say that your solenoid is bad. Why the ford solenoid? Why not insulate the starter, and use a gear-reduction mini-starter? The wiring wouldn't be messed up that way, and it would get you the clearance for the headers. That is the route that I would go. Otherwise, you need to check for voltage drop across the battery cables, the ford solenoid, and the starter. Wherever you don't find a voltage drop, then you will know where the problem is. The ford solenoid should only have a small voltage drop across it, about 1-1.5 volts. I'm not sure how you've got the starter solenoid worked on the engine, since gm solenoids have the magnet to operate the starter drive inside... Are you using a ford starter also? Is the clicking sound the ford solenoid or the starter drive( some people call it the Bendix)? It would be much simpler to get the mini-starter and insulate it.

Answer 3

Personally, I have never heard of using a Ford solinoid on a Chevrolet, but if you say that its a standard conversion kit, then you would know better than I do. However, putting the mix n' match out of my mind, your problem sounds like it is the starter or the solenoid. Try replacing the solenoid,if thats not it, the safest way is to remove the starter, and have it tested, if you know enough to put a conversion kit like that on it, I'm betting you know how to take the starter off. Take it in to your local auto parts store (AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, Pep Boys), and have them test the starter itself. Make sure you ask them to test it a few times, their machines sometimes test ok when the starter wont work in a vehicle. Think this is your best bet. Good Luck.

Answer 4

dude get a mental picture of the starter. A chevy [ GM ] starter, has the solenoid,piggy back on it.
Ford has solenoid seperate on a fire or fender wall.

On chevy, starter is excited, by a brown or tan colored wire, that attaches ti the thin stud in solenoids back end.

Ford has a small red wire, with a black boot connected by push on over a small screw.

The two are not electricaly compatable.
Use the correct starter for the engine, and fabricate your self some heat shield to protect parts from heat damages

Answer 5

Mix and match Ford and Chevy parts is probably the problem. Start by going back to a Chevy starter and solenoid set-up.

Answer 6

why would you put a ford solenoid on a chevy? thats probably it right there. Take that crap off and wire it like it should be and it will start.chevy has a solenoid on the starter already. putting a ford in it does nothing.

Answer 7

Did you buy a kit to do the swap or did you just shoot from the hip? Check all your connections. Has it started since you converted to the body mounted solenoid? If not something is not hooked up correctly.Take the starter off and test it with jumper cables and your battery or another battery.

Answer 8

try reaching under the truck and give the starter a whack with a hammer. I had an old truck that would not work from time to time. Whacking the starter seemed to free up something. I am not sure what, but it was a cheap fix for several months till I could afford a new starter.