no start...need confirmation

[T-Bone]

I parked it Friday....turned the key on Monday morning and nothing. All the "lights" came on but the starter did not turn, nor did the engine. So I am leaning towards the starter repalcement??? Can you guys think of other things?
One other note, I had a bunch of ants where the positive battery cable ends.

Thanks in advance

[T-Bone]

sorry, my sig is not up..
'88 G-wagoneer (stock)
new battery (less than a year)
new spark plugs

[River Beast]

When your lights are on...turn the key to run and see if the lights dim down any...is there a click or anything?

Could be as easy as the solenoid....

[T-Bone]

I will try that when I get home (at work now). I take it if the lights dim and no click...its the solenoid?

Thanks

[64Trvlr]

It could be something as simple as dirty/corroded connections or a low battery. Did you try jump starting it?
I'd check the battery water first, then battery charge, then the connections, cables, solenoid, cable to starter, starter.
:cool:

[River Beast]

Try bypassing the solenoid with a jumper wire (by hand) with the key in the RUN position...I HATE trying to diagnose a problem like this with a keyboard!!! :mad:

Just tap the wire across the solenoid to see if the starter engages...if so... your solenoid is bad.

[Lindel]

Check the neutral safety switch, or drop the shifter from park, to neutral and try it. If it's the 727 version of FSJ, this is a common problem.

It's usually just a matter of not putting the truck in park, all the way. Especially if this has just started.

[T-Bone]

the battery was purchased this past winter. I did check the water in it. Battery connections weren't corroded, but I am going to check all of the rest tonight. Hard to do at 5:30 am.
I do have a dumb question....
Is the component that the positive battery cable connects to (along with other stuff) the voltage regulator?

[River Beast]

I believe you are tolking about the starter solenoid mounted on the pass fender well... ;)

[coolram]

The positive cable on an '88 is connected to a relay on the fender then it goes to the alt.Try a jump start(check battery voltage if you have a multimeter).Check all connections,do like Riverbeast said about jumping starter solenoid and also try startering in neautral,but do this in steps to eliminate each thing.

[T-bone2]

I tried all the suggestions to no avail. I jumpered, tested battery, checked for corrosion,etc. I was giving up and then, forgetting the harness at the starter was disconnected :confused: , hit the key one last time....VARROOOM! turned it off, noticed & connected the starter harness..tried it again...VARROOOM! :D test drive ..went fine.
We will see tomorrow morning.
I am banking on a bad connections. I am changing the battery cables anyway, they are looking old.
maybe the ants helped ;)

[T-bone2]

well, this morning ...no start again :(
Yesterday I tried to find the starter solenoid at the parts store, they kept bringing me the wrong part. They said it was a cylindrical solenoid that mounts at the starter (their computer says). It is more like a dodge set-up (rectangular relay style on the fender well) as we have all said. Gotta love 'em.
Anybody find these or equivelant around (maybe part #)?

Thanks again

[Lindel]

The 88 should have a Mitsubishi starter, instead of the older Ford type.

I'd still look in the direction of the neutral safety switch, on the tranny.

Failing that, you need to start checking to see if you have the correct voltages at the correct terminals, on the starter solenoid.

[T-Bone]

thanks Lindel, I did the "put it neutral and start" a few different times. Which didnt lead to anything.
I have mechanic friend who is coming over to give me a hand tonight (I hope). Trading for help on his new shop.
The PO has done some "rewiring" on this car, so the schematics are not really true. It is hard (for me) to tell exactly what is what sometimes.
I'll keep you guys informed

[T-Bone]

Where is that neutral safety switch located..is it on the tranny itself?

[PhilSine]

Neutral safety switch is located under the dash on the top of the steering column close to the firewall.

[T-Bone]

Well after fighting 8 different part stores about what I have on my '88 G-WAG I finally found a guy who would get off of the computer and look in a catalog and get the # of the "starter solenoid relay". They couldnt get the part, so I called around and found a guy who was willing to look at the part and see what he could do. He pulled me in the back and we looked through all the starter relays and found "SR_13" one that was close. He broke off a prong and said go home. $8.99, and it worked. (1 person quoted $45.00 for what they said was it, I said see ya) I don't know why this was soooo hard, but NO ONE showed a starter relay on an '86-91 G-WAG. "your car just doesn't have one!" direct quote. I guess Macon is on its own parts network.... :rolleyes:
It took 2minutes to diagnose, five minutes to change, and 8 hours to find.
Just glad it works. Sorry for all the hassle, thanks for all the help.