pbjman Posted July 13, 2015 #1 Posted July 13, 2015 Sometime after 5pm today, I was starting getting my work van and trailer ready for tomorrow because I'm starting a bathroom remodel. I started the van and pulled it forward away from my enclosed trailer so I could back it up next to my utility trailer which I use for hauling demolition debris to the dump. I switched to my 1-7/8 trailer ball and before I backed up to the trailer, I decided to hook up my Tag-Along trailer to the van just to see if it would sit level enough to tow behind the van, which it did. Then I turned the key to "run" without starting the van and left it there while I did a quick check of the trailer blinkers and lights to see if they worked good while hooked to the van, which they did. Then I turned the key off and disconnected the trailer and put it away. Then I tried to start the van again and it wouldn't start!! What the heck, it just started fine a minute ago and now it won't turn over at all, just a single, 'click' from the starter! This got me scared a little, because I was thinking what if something in the trailer shorted out something in my van! I first thought to rule out the battery, which is fairly new, and even though I was pretty sure it was good, I put the charger with boost-start mode on and still just one 'click' each time I hit the key. I then checked all the fuses under the hood and swapped a few, same with some of the relays, swapping a few to see if anything was different, but no. All accessories working, lights staying bright even when we tried to turn the key to start. Just 'click'. So I crawled under and listened while my wife turned the key and the 'click' now sounded like a loud knock or tap in the starter. Since it was now 7:30 and Autozone is 20 minutes away and closes at 8 so I asked my wife to go get a starter for me. I called ahead to make sure they had it ready. Then I jumped online and after a quick visit to YouTube University, I knew exactly how to remove the starter so I jacked up the van, blocked it up, and took the old one off. Wife got back right when I needed her to and I installed the new starter. The old one had a frayed and disintegrated cable going from the solenoid into the starter motor, so I was pretty hopeful that that was the issue. I said a prayer and turned the key, and it started. Whew! Put tools/equipment away, moved van, hooked up trailer, etc and got done as it was getting dark. At least the starter replacement is pretty easy on my van. Just two bolts facing straight down. Oh well, could've been worse, right? My theory is it failed when it did because I left the key on and since the cable was already weak and brittle it cooked it? Or was it that it just had one last start in it and that cooked it? How'd your evening go?
Squidley Posted July 13, 2015 #2 Posted July 13, 2015 2 bolts holding it on, a Chevy with a 350 in it?
pbjman Posted July 13, 2015 Author #3 Posted July 13, 2015 2 bolts holding it on, a Chevy with a 350 in it? It's a Chevy Astro van, 4.3L V6.
Squidley Posted July 13, 2015 #4 Posted July 13, 2015 Same thing, 4.3 was a 350 minus 2 cylinders, the 2 bolts gave it away, GM had just 2 for a very long time. Glad it was something stupid and easy to fix, how y'all doing up there in Algonac?
pbjman Posted July 13, 2015 Author #5 Posted July 13, 2015 Same thing, 4.3 was a 350 minus 2 cylinders, the 2 bolts gave it away, GM had just 2 for a very long time. Glad it was something stupid and easy to fix, how y'all doing up there in Algonac? We're doing great and trying to take good care of this area for you until you return...... (When we are home, that is. I've got some more posting to do about the rest of my up north trip and then our ride down to WV. A total of 2900 miles in the last 12 days or so.)
djh3 Posted July 13, 2015 #6 Posted July 13, 2015 Us to cary a screwdriver in glove box on my GM stuff. Solenoid always seemed to fail at wrong time. Easy to change though.
Eck Posted July 13, 2015 #7 Posted July 13, 2015 If I remember correctly, the two starter bolts on the GM's were 9/16" too.....
midnightventure Posted July 13, 2015 #8 Posted July 13, 2015 With the key in the run position there would not have been any juice going to the starter so sitting for a few minutes in that position didn't cause the problem. It was just due to happen. I used to have an 87 Chevy Astro. Loved that van. Got 25 mpg on the hwy. It was my wife's daily driver and she decided she wanted something different. I have had a truck with the same drive train ever since then though.
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