truck wont start..... please give me some insight

[klaussk]

My 85 k10 has a 305 v8 and a 700r4 auto tranny. I put a new alternator, battery,battery cables, and starter in it recently. But when i turn the key nothing happens. No lights no radio. Nothing at all. I have no idea what it could be. It almost turned over twice. And when I turn the key Im not getting any power to the starter. I think its electrical and my gut tells me its something in the steering colum.Any ideas?

[VileZambonie]

It could be a magic trick someone is playing on you but I doubt it. Have you checked your fusible links yet?

[klaussk]

i checked all the fuses in the fuse box. Is the fusible link something different.

[Blazin]

fusible link is the white connector looking thing a ma jig in the wire down near the starter. It looks like a connector but its not. Pull on the wire on each side of it. If it doesn't pull out of the white part its good, if it does well then it bad.

[klaussk]

Well I wasn't looking for anything like that but i did see two  black connection looking things in the wires going to the starter. its right were several wires connect into 2 different wires then go to the starter. I dont have the truck here its at a friends house about 30 minutes away. He is going to have his friend who is a GM certified mechanic look at it on Monday.

[VileZambonie]

You can see the fusible link information here at the starter solenoid and firewall junction block:

http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/techinfo/wiring_diagrams/81-87_V8_engine.jpg

and this will show you how to make a fusible link:

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=11972.0

[klaussk]

Thanks guys. I need a phone that can access this site for when Im actualy there working on my truck. You guys are awesome.

[Irish_Alley]

Also check the little red wire on the starter makes sure it has a good tight connection

[Lt.Del]

try a simple thing first, tap the starter solenoid with a hammer.  it sticks sometimes if the battery is weak for some reason.

[klaussk]

I just put the new starter in it today. The starter was the original and it was pretty weak. But now nothing is getting power. We double checked the wiring to the starter from a gm shop manual, a Haynes manual, and looked on my buddies 87. Its hooked up right. I'm starting to think its the fusible links. The old starter was on its last leg so it was probably drawing excess power and may have caused the fusible link to burn out. Either that or something came loose or shorted out in the steering column on the ignition switch. Or the ignition switch is totally shot. It did happen as soon as I tried to use an extra key that I picked up from the last owner today. But the truck did have a problem starting up before. But it was because of the starter struggling. It would occasionally want to stall while i would come to a somewhat quick stop. it seems like the choke wanted to kick on. But it all seemed very strange. Electrical issues are so confusing to me.

[Irish_Alley]

Make sure your starter wires are getting power and the little red wire is hot during key rotation. Just want to make sure before you get into your column

[klaussk]

I wasn't getting power at the wire when trying to turn it over. So maybe it isn't the column because when I wasn't trying to turn it over there was about 1.5 volts. So I'm starting to think the old starter was drawing too much power and burnt out the fusible links. A very good GM tech is coming to look at it on Monday. Thank for the help guys.

[klaussk]

I also could have been using the voltometer wrong. My dad is electrical engineer and tought me how to use one but that was almost 7 years ago. I totaly forget how to now haha.

[bake74]

     Your volt meter should have a spot for DC, make sure it is not on AC while checking anything related to battery on a vehicle, other than that, black is ground, red is for power.

[klaussk]

I wasnt sure if it was supposed to be ac or dc so i checked on both. on dc it would have about 1.5 volts going to it.But when you try to turn the key It wouldnt show anything. But if the wires with the fusible links have burnt out the links There wouldnt be anything telling the Starter to turn on.