Bad Key Cylinder?

[wildgoose]

Cold start today…

1st attempt: 2 pumps of throttle and half choke, key buzzer sounded as normal and engine nearly started to fire then quit

2nd attempt: one more pump of throttle and full choke, same result

3rd attempt: key buzzer silent, turn the key and nothing… no starter, nothing… dead

I pulled the key out of the cylinder and notice the cylinder backs out of the column about 1/4 inch. Never seen that before. Hmm.

Re-inserted the key and still no key buzzer but the cylinder will turn. Just nothing happening. It’s like something disconnected in the key cylinder or the column.

I’ve seen the videos on replacing the cylinder… any other ideas?

 

[DoubleDingo]

Sounds to me like a dead battery. I'd charge the battery overnight first, then try it again in the morning

 

[wildgoose]

I would agree but the battery and alternator are both less than two weeks old… I didn’t have eyes on the voltmeter when I tried cranking it, but once she went silent, I noticed the voltmeter is registering zero. Just doesn’t seem likely. Two days ago the voltmeter was reading 14 volts and nothing was left on while it sat.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Possible parasitic draw. I would recommend putting a multimeter on battery to check voltage.

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

I would agree but the battery and alternator are both less than two weeks old… I didn’t have eyes on the voltmeter when I tried cranking it, but once she went silent, I noticed the voltmeter is registering zero. Just doesn’t seem likely. Two days ago the voltmeter was reading 14 volts and nothing was left on while it sat.

Or it could have a bad/dead/dying cell... this can happen to fairly new batteries. Had it happen on my truck, on a battery that was about 7-8 months old.

 

[Ricko1966]

Could be the battery cables need tightening,or the positive lead is loose at the starter,one of the battery grounds is loose,fuseable links are burnt. But first guess is clean and tighten the battery cables.

 

[TotalyHucked]

I agree, doubt it's in the column/key cylinder unless something in the column is causing a parasitic draw. Check battery and alternator connections first, then check batt with a multimeter. If the battery is dead, I would take both it and the alternator back to the parts store and have them tested. Once you replace/get the truck fired up, I'd drive it to the parts store and have the starter checked too. I've had more than one battery killed due to a bad starter.

 

[wildgoose]

Alright, alright, alright… returned to the crime scene today…

Battery had 12.36 volts on the meter. Inserted and heard the key buzzer straightaway. Turned key to start, got nothing. Not even a starter clicking. Dead silence, crickets. Headlights work, headlights do not dim upon turning the key to start.

Took key out reinserted, no key buzzer. Turned the key to start, dead.

Measured battery voltage on wife’s Kia at 12.6 volts and then connected jumper cables for 10 minutes. New voltage on truck battery is 12.9. Inserted key and turned to start, nothing, silence, dead.

Called a nearby shop and they asked me if I tried banging on the starter while someone else turned the key. Had my wife turn the key after I beat the starter 4-5 times and still got nothing.

I then attempted to start and it started to crank and nearly fully started but then quit. I turned the key again and still got nothing but silence.

Went back under the truck and beat on the starter again 7-8 times. Climbed back into seat, gave one slow pump of throttle and turned the key… she lit and came back to life. I’ve driven it to a shop where they are going to clean up some nasty looking ground connections and see if they can reproduce the same issue I had. After driving to said shop and shutting it down, we tried it again 4-5 times and it started every time on first attempt.

The shop is thinking the starter may be ready for replacing but they don’t wanna do it until they can reproduce the same issue. Gonna leave it out in the cold tomorrow for a few hours to see if it’ll have same trouble.

 

[TotalyHucked]

Yep, my money is on the starter. Had that exact thing happen just a couple months back with my '05 Z71. Turned the key, got nothing but interior lights and the radio. Turned it a few more times, got a couple clicks and partial spins of the starter but not enough to start it. Checked the battery, it was toast. Put a battery and starter in, fixed it all. Then the alternator bearing started howling a week later so now I have ALL new electrical components lol

 

[Ricko1966]

This doesn't make since,a bad starter doesn't make the key buzzer and the volt gauge quit reading,dirty connection at starter will though.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Might be a grounding issue somewhere

 

[wildgoose]

This doesn't make since,a bad starter doesn't make the key buzzer and the volt gauge quit reading,dirty connection at starter will though.

I asked them about that… the two are unrelated. No commonality. Both the factory key and the spare key I have, if you insert they activate buzzer. But once you remove your hand, the key slides out about 1/8 of an inch and the buzzer shuts off. I had to push the key further to make it buzz again. Yesterday it was silence no matter how I pushed or turned them. They told me the buzzer only sounds when the plastic tab switch makes contact.

 

[wildgoose]

Might be a grounding issue somewhere

Agreed… I got reprimanded today for not using a star washer when I cleaned the engine block ground. And for not grounding to the frame.

 

[Ricko1966]

I asked them about that… the two are unrelated. No commonality. Both the factory key and the spare key I have, if you insert they activate buzzer. But once you remove your hand, the key slides out about 1/8 of an inch and the buzzer shuts off. I had to push the key further to make it buzz again. Yesterday it was silence no matter how I pushed or turned them. They told me the buzzer only sounds when the plastic tab switch makes contact.

Starter,volt gauge,and key buzzer all quit,same day same time. But unrelated I am very skeptical,but I hope all goes well. A frame ground is very important. Body,Chassis,and engine all require a good ground.

 

[wildgoose]

Starter,volt gauge,and key buzzer all quit,same day same time. But unrelated I am very skeptical,but I hope all goes well. A frame ground is very important. Body,Chassis,and engine all require a good ground.

Yep - but headlights and dome light worked. That’s what started me down the path of a bad key cylinder.