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Truck won't start
markrvp:
--- Quote from: paigeoliver on January 12, 2008, 10:56:00 pm ---I was all sorts of underneath the dash, so I could have killed the odometer myself. Also, I got the "Service engine soon" light on the way to work, which I have never seen before. Of course that might have very well come on because the odometer isn't working.
--- End quote ---
Yeah, best to ignore the "Service engine soon" light... those always come on in error. >:D
FrizzleFried:
Uh...some vehicles (not sure about 1989) require you to hold down the BRAKE to start it?
DrewKaree:
--- Quote from: paigeoliver on January 12, 2008, 05:12:32 pm ---Well, it magically started working again without me doing anything. Well, I did lots of stuff, but none of them did anything. About 7 hours after my final search for the ignition relay (which I could not find, where is the part, the Chilton manual doesn't even tell me) it just magically decided to start again.
The speedometer/odometer has stopped functioning now, otherwise everything is working right again.
--- End quote ---
IIRC, check the passenger side near the firewall. There's a few relays there (little plastic square boxes, or perhaps the big metal kind too :dunno ). Since the truck is old (and common), they might not show it in the ideal area in the Chilton manual. I've had far better luck with Haynes manuals, whereas Chilton's often have stuff spread throughout the book. Chilton's are great for tons of info that you might never need, while the Haynes is kinda the "Cliff Notes" version when you just want to wrench on your car.
Kevin Mullins:
The best manual to locate "relays" on a particular vehicle is the owners manual.
Chilton and Haynes both suck these days. (used to be good)
The starter solenoid is mounted directly to the starter itself.
But I highly doubt either of those are the problem.
One thing that seems be getting overlooked a bit from the original post is
--- Quote ---Putting the key in the ignition and turning it does NOTHING, it doesn't try to start at all, nor does any power go to the radio or accessories.
--- End quote ---
Also weather seems to play a factor in this as well. The cold (overnight frost) may be shrinking a connection just enough to loose it's connection.
(hence why later on it was all fine again....warmed up)
The fact that the headlights and all other non-ignition switched stuff still seems to work properly tells me the main battery cables should be fine.
Which leads me to think it's main power lead/connection somewhere in either the fuse box, ignition switch, ground, etc. Some vehicles have multiple grounds, so check anything going to and from the engine block to the chassis/body closely. Still could be a number of other things....... intermittent problems are the worst to troubleshoot.
In this case, it'll be something minor that causes such a big headache.
lanman31337:
If it's an auto, try wiggling the shifter. Sometimes the lockout switch gets tired after the years.
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