firebirddude98

when you turn the key the fuel pump primes and all the lights come on as normal, but won't crank at all. thought either starter solenoid, ignition switch, or clutch safety switch, found the clutch switch and took it apart, i guess it looked okay, no corrosion and the contacts didn't look too bad, its only 8 bucks at advance so i think i'll go ahead and get it and see, but when you turn the key you can hear a light click, and when you let go, it clecks again, that mean maybe something on the starter might've got loose? i hit a pretty good hole the other night

firebirddude98

wasnt clutch switch >:/ gonna jack it up and try to hot wire the starter to see if it's the starter switch on the key.

flintwrench69

iTrader: (11)

Sounds like you might have a broken wire to the VATS key reader. You can check it by dropping the steering column panel, checking the resistance at the small black 2 wire connector near the bottom of the column. With the key in the ignition check the ohm reading, should match the key resistance or if its OL open circuit the wires are broken to the key reader.

firebirddude98

the key just in the ignition or should it be turned to run, i'll go out there and look around, i gotta go to work at 4 though
and how do i know the resistance of the key, can't you tell by how many times the car dings when you turn the key to on?

flintwrench69

iTrader: (11)

No you gotta measure the resistance of the pellet in the key with an ohmmeter.

bad_408_vert

iTrader: (6)

is your security light on?

DisasterFormula

iTrader: (1)

If the fuel pump is priming, it shouldn't be the security. Sounds like a bad ignition switch or starter. Try thumping the starter with a wrench a couple of times and see if that does anything.

Decadence75

iTrader: (17)

I would check the fuses as well before replacing any parts.

firebirddude98

i already checked the relays and fuses, they all good, but the starter relay is not clicking i don't think, i hear one relay clicking but i think it's the fuel pump relay. no the security light is not on, but the one time it did like this when i left the tops off and it got rained in for a few minutes the security light was on. What i am thinking is that some water got in the column and might've just not shorted out something or corroded it. I am gonna test the starter and solenoid to make sure they are all good before i go to takin out the steering column to get to that damn switch

firebirddude98

sorry, wasnt the fuel pump relay, it was ignition relay beside the starter relay that i heard clickin. hopefully i can buy this 89 chevy 4x4 as a backup, i hate drivin my dad's tacoma XP

i am thinking it's the starter switch and not the ignition switch because the starter relay isn't clicking, but the ignition switch is, so if the starter switch isn't sending power to the relay, the relay isn't gonna click, but if it was sendin, it would click, i just don't wanna have to take out the steering column and all that jazz. man's gotta do whata man's gotta do though, can't be a bitch in this world

firebirddude98

hooked jumper cable to battery and touched it to purple wire and just got some arc, didn't turn over, so i'm suspecting its the starter or solenoid, any tips on changing it out?

flintwrench69

iTrader: (11)

Of course it wasnt the fuel pump relay if you could hear the fuel pump prime.
If the key reader wires in the column are broken it wont crank because the PASSKEY module needs to see that key chip resistance is correct before it can allow starter enable. My advise is to get the car to an auto repair shop.

flintwrench69

iTrader: (11)

Sounds like just the starter is bad.
Just a few 13 mm bolts to the engine & the small nuts to the solenoid.

firebirddude98

yep, starter was bad, my car doctoring is getting better, switched it out for about 116$. everyone have a good memorial day, god bless our veterans

DisasterFormula

iTrader: (1)

Return that clutch safety switch! Money in your pocket b/c you don't need it.

White 96LT1

iTrader: (4)

next time just get a hammer and tap on the starter soleniod, takes 2 seconds and would have saved your trip to the parts store