Intermittent not cranking over

DEAN BUCKALEW

MEMBER
1999 GMC SUBURBAN
7.4L
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
162,000 MILES

This car randomly won't start. No starter engagement, no sound at all. Battery is fully charged. This has happened 3 times over past year. Last time I had driven about 10 miles, parked about 15 to 20 minutes and it wouldn't start. Let it set for couple hours and it fired right up.

4 Replies

AL514

MECHANIC
4,675 POSTS

Hello, I would start by checking the starter relay in the fuse box under the hood, try swapping it with another relay like for a quick check. Check the connections on the starter too, make sure they're tight and not corroded. Hope this helps, anything else let us know.

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Monday, June 8th, 2020 AT 11:01 AM

DEAN BUCKALEW

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thanks, I'll give those tips a try.

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Monday, June 8th, 2020 AT 12:33 PM

AL514

MECHANIC
4,675 POSTS

If possible check the underside of the fuse panel in the engine compartment, they seem to have no protection from moisture and tend to corrode easy. Sometimes you can just unbolt it and tip it up to see.

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Monday, June 8th, 2020 AT 12:59 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,513 POSTS

It sounds like the starter motor is going out which is common. this guide will help confirm the issue:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

This guide will walk you through the replacement with diagrams below for your car:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-starter-motor

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

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