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Tracy Martin TN 
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 Topic: My truck won't crank
Posted: 26 Oct 2018 at 5:17pm |
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99 GMC, won't crank, stranded at work. Instrument cluster lights up. No crank, no click nothing. Tapped the starter to see if that helped, nothing. It does have security feature, what I am looking at for fix? Thanks Tracy
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Bob D. (La)
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Posted: 26 Oct 2018 at 6:17pm |
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Tracy, Not that this is the problem but the neighbor called me last summer, her car wouldn't start and she needed to get the kids to baby sitter and go to work. It was doing just as you describe. Tried jumping, nothing. Tried starter trick, nothing. Out of desperation I checked gear shift to insure in park. Sure looked like it was but after moving it out of and back into park, it started.
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Grayray
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Posted: 26 Oct 2018 at 6:31pm |
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Yep, what Bob said, or try putting it in neutral to start it. Could be the neutral safety switch.
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Tracy Martin TN
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Posted: 26 Oct 2018 at 6:39pm |
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I will try that. I think it may be the switch not reading the key.Wish there was a quick test to diagnose it. Thanks Tracy
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Tracy Martin TN
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Posted: 26 Oct 2018 at 7:59pm |
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I took the car and drove over to shop. Tried the shift lever in park and made sure it was moving all the way. No click of nothing. Dash, and lights power up. Tracy
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truckerfarmer
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Posted: 26 Oct 2018 at 9:21pm |
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Common problem with GM pickups is pot metal parts wear out and don't fully engage ignition switch. Switch is generally on top of steering column just below dash. If you have a tilt column, try putting it all the way up or all the way down. Depending on whether it is a push or pull switch, that may get it to engage. Simple way to test.
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omahagreg
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Posted: 26 Oct 2018 at 9:33pm |
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Does your '99 have two positive cables at the battery? My '96 did, and they corroded. One went direct to starter, one to fuse box on fender wall. The second one on that single bolt was not powering up from corrosion, causing all sorts of troubles. Replaced the cable and bolt, never had another problem.
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Tracy Martin TN
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Posted: 26 Oct 2018 at 10:02pm |
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I will check for cables and tilt the column up and down. Last time it did this was at the farm. Left it overnight and it cranked up like always. Nothing more aggravating than a vehicle you can't trust. I watched a video on removing the switch. Doesn't seem that bad. What I wonder is how to get a switch that is keyed the same as doors. This truck has security and the chip in key fob.Thanks Tracy
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DanWi
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Posted: 26 Oct 2018 at 10:33pm |
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Turn the key on on but don't try to start it let it set for 10 minutes to recognize the key when the security light flashes you can start it. Wife 03 grand am has been doing it more she now starts the car 10 minutes before she leaves for work. It doesn't do it all the time just once in a while.
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 26 Oct 2018 at 11:19pm |
Tracy, the KEY is near the steering wheel... the SWITCH I down by your knee above the column... that's where the electric is....... you don't replace the key or lock, just the electrical switch box.
there is a rod or something tieing the key lock to the switch... make sure the rod is not broken or bent/ etc.
Edited by steve(ill) - 26 Oct 2018 at 11:21pm
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Tbone95
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Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 5:49am |
 DanWi wrote:
Turn the key on on but don't try to start it let it set for 10 minutes to recognize the key when the security light flashes you can start it. Wife 03 grand am has been doing it more she now starts the car 10 minutes before she leaves for work. It doesn't do it all the time just once in a while. |
Yep, been there! Try this, it’s free!
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Tbone95
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Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 5:50am |
DanWi wrote:
Turn the key on on but don't try to start it let it set for 10 minutes to recognize the key when the security light flashes you can start it. Wife 03 grand am has been doing it more she now starts the car 10 minutes before she leaves for work. It doesn't do it all the time just once in a while. |
Oops...hmmm...
Edited by Tbone95 - 27 Oct 2018 at 5:53am
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Dave H
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Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 5:55am |
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What Steve said about that switch. I had to replace eons ago.
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Thad in AR.
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Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 6:51am |
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Tracy I’ve had a lot of trouble with my cables on my 99 the past couple years. I replaced the bolts and no more problems.
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fixer1958
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Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 7:55am |
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Is the security light in the dash on with the key in run position. Should come on and go back out if there is not an issue with your key. If it stays on you do.
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Tracy Martin TN
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Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 8:50am |
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The battery light comes on, no security light. Tracy
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fixer1958
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Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 9:25am |
Likely not the key issue. You need to see if you are getting power to the small wire (purple) at the starter in the crank position. Need a helper. If no power at the purple wire start back tracking. Jump the starter at the starter from the purple wire to battery positive to see if the starter engages. It will eliminate the starter if it engages. If you are sure it won't engage it's the starter.
Didn't say it would be easy but better than shotgunning parts at it. See what you have and we can go from there.
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Tracy Martin TN
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Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 9:30am |
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No click from solenoid. I tapped on starter. Nothing. Tracy
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Tracy Martin TN
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Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 9:50am |
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Went to shop today, put key in ignition. Did not try to start it. Let the security light blink several times. Started right up. Turned it off and started it 5 times no problem. What is most likely issue here? It is not a good feeling knowing it might strand me miles from home. Thanks Tracy
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Coke-in-MN
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Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 10:06am |
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One thing - the starter grounds through internal wiring as does the solonoid .
It's not like the old starters where the solonoid will click .
Brushes in starter are held by plastic lug and if brushes wear down they will not contact armature and starter is dead - as is solonoid . Easy to check brushes by removing end plate of starter .
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Stan IL&TN
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Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 2:22pm |
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Replace the starter especially if it's the original one. Yes it could be something else but the starter is a high load wearable part that will fail at some point and even if that is not the issue now, it will be down the road IMHO.😐
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Dave H
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Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 4:29pm |
Dang, fixer, I forgot all about that procedure. Was the way I used to do it when a beater was my daily transportation. 
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jaybmiller
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Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 5:14pm |
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get rid of the 'security' computer if you can...that'd eliminate 99% of the problems.
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Steve M Ind
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Posted: 29 Oct 2018 at 3:19pm |
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Check for codes with a good scanner. Security problems usually set codes.
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DiyDave
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Posted: 29 Oct 2018 at 5:01pm |
When in doubt, wif chebbies, disconnect battery for 5 mins, then reconnect. That's all I know or want to, about chebbies... 
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 29 Oct 2018 at 5:48pm |
Went to shop today, put key in ignition. Did not try to start it. Let the security light blink several times. Started right up. Turned it off and started it 5 times no problem. What is most likely issue here? It is not a good feeling knowing it might strand me miles from home. Thanks Tracy Last week when it DID NOT START, did you get the security light blinking ? LIght should blink, then go out and ready to start.. IF you always had the light, then the key was not the problem.. If it NEVER cranked, im still guessing the switch was not sending a signal to the solenoid, or the old starter is worn out.
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Tracy Martin TN
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Posted: 29 Oct 2018 at 7:00pm |
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Honestly Steve, I couldn't tell you yes or no. I don't know what caused it. It has done it before. Also Sunday I noticed my clock was about 20 minutes slow. Can't figure that out either. Tracy
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 29 Oct 2018 at 8:32pm |
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I reread your original post.. Don't think the KEY or PATS ( iginition system) would make it NOT CRANK.... those are NO START conditions... NO CRANK is no power to the starter, or bad starter... Can be neutral start switch, ignition switch, corroded cables, bad ground, or starter / solenoid bad........... like mentioned, if starter is 20 years old... its time to change even if it is not the ONLY problem.
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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DanWi
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Posted: 29 Oct 2018 at 11:02pm |
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On the wifes pontiac when it goes into security mode it will not crank like it is dead first time it happened to her at work they tried to jump it and it still wouldn't turn over. When she did the reset it starts right up.
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Tbone95
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Posted: 30 Oct 2018 at 7:33am |
DanWi wrote:
On the wifes pontiac when it goes into security mode it will not crank like it is dead first time it happened to her at work they tried to jump it and it still wouldn't turn over. When she did the reset it starts right up. |
I had bought a used Grand Am from my sister. It had "stranded" them a couple times, mechanics looked at it, never a good explanation, but it hadn't done it in a while, so it was cheap and what the hay. It did it to me, fortunately in the home driveway. Me being the frugal type, I did not call a tow truck to take it to the shop, I towed it myself with a strap the 15 miles to the shop. Mechanic called me the next day, said he went out to look at it, and it started right up perfectly. Hmmmm..... Son had turned the key on to steer and listen to music on the way over, inadvertently discovered the reset procedure! It did it to me one more time before it got totaled. Never found the "root cause".
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