one4fun
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2013
- Posts
- 175
- Reaction score
- 6
- Location
- Portland, oregon
- First Name
- chris
- Truck Year
- 1986
- Truck Model
- k10
- Engine Size
- 350
1986 K10, 350, AT.
Recently, the starter crapped out on my K10. Would turn the key and get the rapid clicking from the solenoid. A couple attempts and it would start. Finally, it would not start. Just click and not turn over. I ended up having a small electrical fire where the wires connect to the starter after several attempts to crank the motor. Really, it was the coating on the wires that was burning. Wire from the starter to the pos terminal of the battery melted, not from fire, but from a bad ground or short? Battery was pretty hot to the touch.
So, removed starter, had it tested and it failed. Even smoked when on the test bench. Installed a brand new starter with solenoid- not rebuilt; brand new battery top mount rather than side mount - fully charged; new positive and negative battery cables - 2 gauge; new wires to starter (3 red wires to the large post and and 1 purple wire to the small post) - went to start it and the motor cranks over like it should, truck starts right up and runs great, but the starter still has the rapid clicks while the engine is cranking. Once it starts, the click stops. Starter is not getting not, wires, cables and battery are not getting hot.
I am still thinking I have a bad ground somewhere, but I not sure where to look next. As I am new to these trucks, I wonder if they suffer a similar lack of ground wires as some other vehicles. The negative battery cable is bolted to the bracket that the alternator is mounted on. I would be more inclined to bolt it to the frame rail or the block but figured there may be some magical reason for it being where it is.
Appreciate any assistance.
Thanks.
Chris
Recently, the starter crapped out on my K10. Would turn the key and get the rapid clicking from the solenoid. A couple attempts and it would start. Finally, it would not start. Just click and not turn over. I ended up having a small electrical fire where the wires connect to the starter after several attempts to crank the motor. Really, it was the coating on the wires that was burning. Wire from the starter to the pos terminal of the battery melted, not from fire, but from a bad ground or short? Battery was pretty hot to the touch.
So, removed starter, had it tested and it failed. Even smoked when on the test bench. Installed a brand new starter with solenoid- not rebuilt; brand new battery top mount rather than side mount - fully charged; new positive and negative battery cables - 2 gauge; new wires to starter (3 red wires to the large post and and 1 purple wire to the small post) - went to start it and the motor cranks over like it should, truck starts right up and runs great, but the starter still has the rapid clicks while the engine is cranking. Once it starts, the click stops. Starter is not getting not, wires, cables and battery are not getting hot.
I am still thinking I have a bad ground somewhere, but I not sure where to look next. As I am new to these trucks, I wonder if they suffer a similar lack of ground wires as some other vehicles. The negative battery cable is bolted to the bracket that the alternator is mounted on. I would be more inclined to bolt it to the frame rail or the block but figured there may be some magical reason for it being where it is.
- Any ideas why the starter still clicks briefly while the motor is cranking?
- Is a bad ground a likely cause?
- Is there an ignition switch relay between the ignition switch and the starter? If so, where is it located?
- Would a faulty ignition switch cause this issue?
Appreciate any assistance.
Thanks.
Chris
