Van Suddenly Won't Start...please advise.

[akendall]

Van has been running like a dream until I went to start it the other morning and got nothing when I turned the key over. Batteries are less than a year old and I just had the alternator rebuilt. I am getting power to the van cause my stereo comes on after I put the key in. I didnt notice any click sound from my glow plugs either, but I dont always get the click. It doesnt even attempt to turn the engine over. Almost like something is completely disconnected or dead. I checked my fuses and they seem fine. Could it be the starter? Do starters die without any notice or indication that it may be failing? I guess Im a bit puzzled at how sudden it stopped working.

Does anyone have any ideas??

Angela

[Mr. Flibble]

Sounds like the battery or the starter.

Put it on a charger, let it sit, still no click when turning key then your solenoid on your starter is gone.

But it is still a strong possibility your battery's are bad or something has come unplugged.

[akendall]

I just replaced the batteries and everything else is powering on. Lights, radio, etc. I will look into the solenoid though. Thanks!

[lrp374]

Check the fusible links and all the connectors in the battery compartment. It is usually a loose or bad connection @ one of these connectors.

[macro]

Yeah even though the batteries are new, double re-tighten and check the connections.

[north54]

Put the key in. Turn it to where the power comes on to your accessories. Shift the vehicle into neutral, then back into park, foot on break!

Seems like I have the same non starting issue every 10th or so time I start the van. This works for me...

[Growlerbearnz]

If the key is loose in the ignition it can do the same thing- make sure the key is fully inserted when you turn to the start position.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Yeah even though the batteries are new, double re-tighten and check the connections.

First thing I'd check is the battery terminals/cable ends.

You could have a brand new vehicle, experience a sudden change in the weather and develop a thin, hardly noticeable layer of corrosion that will inhibit the charge from getting through. The thing is with a diesel engine is it operates at a higher compression ratio than your average gasser. In the case of the Starwagon's 4D56T Mighty Astron Diesel, the compression ratio is 21:1. It works out to something like 350 amperes to turn the motor over, ergo there might be enough juice to run the lights, stereo &c. but not enough to turn the crankshaft. Get one of those wire brushes designed for battery terminals.



Falco.

[punkrawker]

some times the easiest fix with electrical anything is....CHECK THE GROUND!!! especially if you take her wheeling, vibrations and impacts can loosen up the ground and leave you dead in the water. its always the place I start with electrical and more times than not, that is all it is (tail lights, head lights, interior lights, starters, stereos etc) might not be the culprit here but you feel like a tard spending money and time trying to "fix" something when all it is in the end was a loose ground wire/connection....or so I have read on google. hope this helps.

[punkrawker]

and yes from my experience, a starter does not give you any signs of fatigue, about to die etc. you know when you need to replace it when boosting the vehicle does not work, and just be glad you don't have to do it on an 03 tundra.....its underneath the air intake manifold on top of the engine, a real treat when its -30....

[LMcD]

I recently had trouble with my neutral safety switch. When I turned the key everything came on except for the starting part.
After much trouble shooting I found it was my neutral safety switch - mine is an auto and if I wiggled the shifter enough and turned the key at the same time it started.
The neutral safety switch prevents the truck from starting when not in park or neutral...
As a temp. measure I have the switch bypassed.
If you search on the forum for neutral safety switch there is lots of info.

[akendall]

Thank you everyone for your advice!! I will use this information to try and diagnose this problem this weekend. :)

[akendall]

So Im pretty much hopeless when it comes to diagnosing problems with my deli. I took all the advice on this board, but am still unsure what the problem is. I checked all the connections and wiring and everything seems ok. One connection to the battery has some frayed wires so I think I will replace that. (I dont think this is the problem though). If anyone who is knows a thing or two about this issue or deli's in general happens to have some free time to come have a look, that would be amazing. I will pay you for your time. I live in East Van near Clark and Broadway.

[macro]

Will it turn over with a boost?

[akendall]

No I dont think a boost would help. Batteries are brand new. And my van is parked in my driveway which would make it hard to get anothr car close to it :(