G-Wag Wont Start

[BIG BAD JON]

I replaced the spark plugs,spark plug wires,air filter,oil filter,distributor cap,and the distributor rotor.I went to start it and it wont start :( .I told my friend to try starting it while i looked under the hood and as he tried starting it the starter relay started smoking! :eek: I dont know what to do!! :confused: :( I dont know much about motors but I know the starter relay smoking must have been bad. Could someone help me??

[lou]

starter relay or starter overheat is caused by voltage resistance as you are probably cranking it to death try to start it,
please check this, if the vehicle ran before your tune up then it was probably something that you have done to cause a no start situation
1.check spark,pull the coil wire out of the dist, holding it next to ground ( any metal on the engine etc, turn the engine over, you should get a strong blue spark that will jump to the gound source, if you do not then this is why it won't start, if you get no spark
1. make sure that you have installed the cap and rotor correctly. Check the coil wire , replace thewire with the old one, if it is a no spark situation and it sounds that it is then it has to be something that you have changed, you would have to cross quite a few plug wires for a no start, even so you would get all kinds of back fire through the carb
hope this helps

[BIG BAD JON]

Do i have to replace the relay??

[lou]

if you smoked it, I would definetly, remember that when your cranking the starter for long periods of time you are generating alot of heat not only through the starter selonoid/relay etc but also through the starter wiring as well

[BIG BAD JON]

Dayum!! :eek: Ya see im only 16 and I have no dad to teach me that stuff.Ive learned this stuff from watching shows like: Horsepower TV,Trucks,Shadetree Mechanic,and Popular Hotrodding Magazine TV.I only have a mom that has helped her dad work on a car a few times.I feel kinda stupid :(

[ibnfe]

Everyone has to start somewhere! If I were to guess, I would say most everyone here is either self-taught or taught with the help of everyone else here. That's what's great about this site. I would definately replace the relay. After that, I would start with the tips lou gave and go from there. Let us know what you find out and maybe we can point you in a more specific direction if that doesn't fix it. Good Luck!

[Sgt. Dave]

Jon, just get one of your old plugs, and use it as a spark tester. Put it on #1 ( front cyl on the driver side of the engine) ign. lead, and ground the metal shell of the plug against the engine. You should see a strong blue spark when you crank the engine. I wouldn't pull the coil lead to test that way, you could blow the ignition box. Make sure you didn't loosen the power to the coil. Check with a volt meter ot test light and see if you have power to the coil with the ignition on. Probably should invest in a Chiltons or Haynes manual for you truck. It will give yousome step by step troubleshooting tips. Good luck!