Engine no crank (with solution)

[nonickatall]

Today was my daughter's last day of primary school and she's now starting secondary school. The children had rehearsed a play for the occasion, and I wanted to buy my daughter a costume. So we got into the truck and set off. Unfortunately, there was a lot of traffic and it was very hot yesterday. I sometimes have the problem that my music doesn't work when I start the truck. I've never figured out why, whether the radio is stuck in some kind of mode or whether it's the Bose amplifier, I don't know. In any case, you can just turn the truck off and on again, and usually the music starts working.

So yesterday we were driving along without music and came off the motorway and stopped at the first traffic light.

There was heavy traffic, and I thought: I'll just try a quick restart. So I turned the truck off and immediately back on, but the starter didn't engage. Great, the light turned green, the traffic behind me was backed up, and of course, I was in a very inconvenient spot. I tried to start it several times, but the starter wouldn't budge.

So I got out, found some help to at least push the truck to the side, and of course, put the gear selector in neutral. With the help of two people, I pushed the truck aside. Then I tried again, and the truck started.

So we continued on our way, naturally with a queasy feeling.

A short time later, we arrived at the shop where I wanted to buy the costume and, of course, had to turn the truck off again.

When we got back in the truck, the starter wouldn't work again.

Then I suddenly had an idea: I've been having problems for a while with the gear selector switch that reports the gear position. Every now and then, it doesn't engage the correct gear, and I have to shift back and forth to get it into the right gear. Since I know from another car that the starter doesn't work when the vehicle is not on Park or Neutral, I simply shifted the lever and shifted back to Park (P), and and behold, the starter worked.

In other words, that's the problem.

That was very reassuring, because replacing the starter isn't exactly fun, especially since I already have the switch.

I wanted to share this experience with you, because it will surely happen to someone else someday, who will be stuck thinking their starter is broken.

 

[Javelina]

Interesting story and shrewd reasoning.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Thank you for posting the solution to your issue. Our collective knowledge base is increased.

 

[strutaeng]

So your park-neutral safety switch is bad? There's a small slot on it. Sometimes when you install it, it requires a bit of trial-and-error to get it just right. Maybe your adjustment bolt backed out?

On the 4x4 models that switch is a PIA to get to because the front driveshaft is in the way, IIRC.

Let us know the outcome and thanks for posting this.

 

[nonickatall]

So your park-neutral safety switch is bad? There's a small slot on it. Sometimes when you install it, it requires a bit of trial-and-error to get it just right. Maybe your adjustment bolt backed out?

On the 4x4 models that switch is a PIA to get to because the front driveshaft is in the way, IIRC.

Let us know the outcome and thanks for posting this.

What do you mean with;

"requires a bit of trial-and-error to get it just right. "

Do you mean ajust? Is there a procedure?

 

[strutaeng]

What do you mean with;

"requires a bit of trial-and-error to get it just right. "

Do you mean ajust? Is there a procedure?

Umm, not sure if there's actually a procedure from GM (never had wondered that until you asked)?

Look here at those: https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-swaps/1786218-4l60e-park-neutral-switch-types-compatible.html

There's a "slot" on the right bolt. When installing (or swapping a transmission), you sometimes will have to tweak the slot, otherwise your engine won't crank (sensor thinks it's in Reverse or something.)

When you buy a new sensor (as on the photo on the right on that reference), it has a little metal keeper/aligner that's supposed to align the position of the shift shaft on the transmission. It's been a while since I installed one on my 1999 Silverado, and can't remember if I still had to tweak anything?

As seen on that reference, there's the 2 connector (earlier models) and single connector (later models), so make sure you have the correct one. When removing the connectors, you'll have to heat the connector with a heat gun or hair blow dryer because they have an adhesive from the factory GM used. Otherwise you'll break the switch. Ask me how I know....SMH

 

[nonickatall]

Today I did replace my gear selector switch and wanted to give you a little guide in case anyone else has to do it.

It's actually really easy; the only problem is that the driveshaft for the front differential is completely in the way, but it's quickly unscrewed. It's held in place with four bolts at the front and is just plugged in at the back.

Next, loosen the lever to which the gear selector cable is attached. It's a good idea to hold it in place with pliers or a suitable open-end wrench, as you don't want to apply too much force to the gear selector shaft.

There's a locking tab on the connector that you carefully pry out. Then, pry the connector out where the locking tab was. The sliding mechanism will pop out, and the connector will disconnect at the same time.

Check before you order the switch. There are different versions; the older ones had two plugs, and mine, which is obviously the latest version, has a long oval plug.

After that, loosen the two bolts that hold the gear selector switch. It's best to remember their positions. That's what I did. Afterward, I cleaned the gear selector shaft with a wire brush and some fine sandpaper so I wouldn't have to use too much force to install the switch.

You have to make sure you slide the switch correctly onto the transmission shaft. It has an elongated hole that fits onto the double-chamfered transmission shaft.

The plastic part was very difficult to get onto the transmission shaft. I used a socket and carefully tapped it in from the outside.

After that, simply tighten the two screws again, reconnect the transmission plug, and screw the selector switch lever back on. Hold the other side while tightening. Then I checked in the car whether the positioning matched the transmission positions. Since I had remembered the position of the gear selector switch, it fit perfectly right away.

You can, however, rotate the gear selector switch slightly back and forth if it's not a perfect fit.

After that, I properly greased the driveshaft joint and reinstalled it.

I have a lifting platform which of course made the whole thing more convenient, but if you do it calmly, it doesn't take an hour.

Attached a few impressions..