'05 Yukon 5.3,..Starter problem or WHAT??

[mountie]

Everything was fine... a 5 month old starter ( not a rebuilt)..... Yesterday, turning the key,...nothing.... tried a dozen times.

Planning to have it towed to mechanic.... This morning, I started the truck and started as if nothing is wrong.

Battery and everything is fine, yesterday and this morning..... Is it a problem starter? Or something else?????????

Help.....

 

[S33k3r]

Check your wiring, especially your grounds. Check your fuel pressure. Also, are you getting any dash lights?

Uh, if possible, get pending codes run with a code reader. That will help 5he most.

 

[mountie]

Check your wiring, especially your grounds. Check your fuel pressure. Also, are you getting any dash lights?

Uh, if possible, get pending codes run with a code reader. That will help 5he most.

Thanks for the suggestions..... I am going to check connections at the starter. But everything is normal... no warning lights on dash...... yesterday, turning the key to start, everything was normal, but no sound from the starter.
I am going to get a replacement ' STRTR ' relay in underhood fuse block..
( I tapped the relay, like in the old days, yesterday, but it didn't change anything, but that doesn't mean the relay is reliable.....

 

[OR VietVet]

The relay is an inexpensive repair attempt and worth it IMO. Doesn't matter if it seems fine when works. Check and double check the connections. You replaced that starter, correct? As has been suggested, check ALL GROUNDS. You may just have an intermittent faulty starter. Is starter a new starter and what brand? I would run only Genuine GM or AC Delco new starters.

More Information for ACDELCO 3371119

 

[mountie]

The relay is an inexpensive repair attempt and worth it IMO. Doesn't matter if it seems fine when works. Check and double check the connections. You replaced that starter, correct? As has been suggested, check ALL GROUNDS. You may just have an intermittent faulty starter. Is starter a new starter and what brand? I would run only Genuine GM or AC Delco new starters.

More Information for ACDELCO 3371119

My mechanic is a straight forward guy.... I know the starter is 'new'..... I believe it is an AC Delco.

 

[tungsten]

Sometimes the battery connections can be at fault.Even though they seem tight. Good luck.

 

[mountie]

Sometimes the battery connections can be at fault.Even though they seem tight. Good luck.

I thought of that first...... But very new battery, fully charged, connections tight.....
There was no sign of a 'strain' when trying to start, yesterday. No strain this morning when it started as usual. ( leaving to get a new relay ).....

 

[OR VietVet]

OK, but "believing" it is an AC Delco and knowing for sure it is an AC Delco or Genuine GM is two different things. Your rig, your call but I would assume it is under warranty anyway.

I am way *a-n-a-l* about knowing things for sure, especially when it is my money involved. It likely is new and I ASSUME it says new on the invoice for the work and if was my shop, that invoice also would list the warranty times on that invoice. I am not saying it is not new or not Genuine GM or AC Delco, I am just responding to your post.

I assume you have contacted your mechanic about this concern, what does he say?

 

[mountie]

OK, but "believing" it is an AC Delco and knowing for sure it is an AC Delco or Genuine GM is two different things. Your rig, your call but I would assume it is under warranty anyway.

I am way **** about knowing things for sure, especially when it is my money involved. It likely is new and I ASSUME it says new on the invoice for the work and if was my shop, that invoice also would list the warranty times on that invoice. I am not saying it is not new or not Genuine GM or AC Delco, I am just responding to your post.

I assume you have contacted your mechanic about this concern, what does he say?

I 'hear' what you are saying....... My mechanic is won of the good guys....

He agreed with me about my starter issue.... No way of knowing what the cause is....
He is confident about the starter, but as per warranty, if it wasn't the starter. We would be back to the beginning. ( Since the truck started up just fine all day today. We agreed to try a relay, ( which I just bought ) GM part - made in Tiwan )....... I am keeping it in the truck if the starter fails again, then swap it and see what happens. The starter was around $200.00.

 

[OR VietVet]

The thing about intermittent problems is that you have it fail, you replace the relay and it starts, you think it is now fixed and relay was the problem but maybe not. You could have just as easily kicked the left rear tire and had it start too. I hope the relay fixes it. I do know that EVERY time I ever replaced an electric fuel pump in my shops, we ALWAYS replaced the relay as well. If there is a relay that controls anything on the vehicle, I wanted to replace it if the major component it controls is replaced.

 

[mountie]

The new relay is not installed... I just have it in a box, so if the starter fails, then I will put the new one in and..... cross my fingers...

 

[Fless]

But you see what @OR VietVet is saying, it may not be the relay itself even if it starts after the swap. When swapping the relay you could be flexing the fusebox which could have an intermittent wire.

 

[mountie]

one step at a time, I suppose...... I can't get my hands on the wires connected to the starter, so I'll wait to get it up on a lift ... Next week. ( My mechanic is full-up right now )
Until then.. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[S33k3r]

Is it possible your alternator is dead?

 

[mountie]

Is it possible your alternator is dead?

Nope.
Nothing shows any low voltage. Gauge at just over 14 when running. Battery check shows good.
Yesterday, when it wouldn't start, the only thing I knew was no reaction to the starter. Nothing dimmed when I turned the key.....
No evidence of a low battery.... ( We all know what that is like)

But I appreciate all the suggestions !!

 

[swathdiver]

Do the 800s show failure records? They are a brief recording of what was going on when the trouble code set.

 

[mountie]

Do the 800s show failure records? They are a brief recording of what was going on when the trouble code set.

Uh, I don't know how to do that.....
I did buy an OBDII code reader ( Ancel ), but I haven't opened the package.....

I have no trouble code 'set'.... ( I'm a dummy with this stuff, but I should learn.

 

[OR VietVet]

It could be the starter, the relay and it could be the ignition switch or maybe even a tight dirty connection at the battery or....etc.

When you tried the key and it acted dead, did you immediately turn off and try again and it started or you let sit and it then started?

I reread the initial problem steps. Very easily could be the signs of an ignition switch problem. Neutral switch?

 

[rockola1971]

Do the 800s show failure records? They are a brief recording of what was going on when the trouble code set.

There are no codes for a bad starter, starter wiring or starter realy in OBD II protocol just like there isnt a trouble code for the fuel pump and its relay and wiring. GM would be making it too easy for us if they had that.

 

[Doubeleive]

throw a hammer on the floor in the back and next time it wont start reach under and give it a couple taps with the hammer and see if it starts.
if that fails to work, jumper the relay post's with the relay pulled, if that works then it's either the relay or ignition related.
sometimes the starters get a flat spot inside and wont go, hence the hammer trick.
this rules nothing else out though just something to try so your hopefully not stranded somewhere.