Dies on 1st crank, starts on second

Wait. Wtf… I just put that extra 10a in that empty spot and it started up the first time..!!! Seriously i’m gonna take it for a cruise see if things are better and if so, how the hell did that come out of there?

 

No way… I put that extra 10 a dust in the EFI #2 spot and the problem is gone. Not quite sure how to feel about that other than stupid. Luckily I’m not a mechanic and only a window cleaner. I have 222,000 miles on this truck. And I guess I could look at it as lesson learned and a really good tuneup. Or a bunch of wasteful spending for no reason. Well, now I can get a new windshield and put some cool new tires on. Wow thank you for that clue

 

Cleared the codes the check engine light is gone and it’s running like my good ol Toyota …

 

Doesn't everyone have one of these somewhere? I miss Radio Shack...and Heathkit, and Lafayette, et al.

 

Don't forget to replace that spare fuse, might come in handy

Got plenty of windows I can hire you to clean

They were a God send back in the day when we actually replaced a solid state component to fix an appliance instead of throwing it away.

 

Funny enough, I have a nice Lafayette LR-5555 receiver I've been holding onto for more years than I can count. It's in superb shape.

And I miss analog meters, but I'm spoiled by the new digital meters being able to do so many different things without much finagling.

 

Okay update… drove approx 250 miles last night. I had one sputtering bucking situation 15 miles into the drive when I had to punch it at 65mph check eng lite came on… 10 a fuse that was replaced was still good. And it started up 1st try.. checked code and it showed P0101 again. Cleared code and ran fine for 200 miles until check eng light came on again. No symptoms…Code was P0125 (eng coolant temp too low) . Coolant level good, new thermostat installed this week. Cleared code and finished the trip. Pulled into parking spot finished my burger and went to start vehicle and…. Click… click click dead… removed the battery, checked and fiddled with wires like a pro would and nothing…. Click bell sounds and lights come on. Turn the key get a click and dead… went to bed cause it was midnight and freezing…. The mystery continues… this truck is such a badass… it could have left me stranded at night in multiple places but got me to a safe warm place before giving up….

 

Bubba W….. if you happen to live anywhere close to my area… you get a free window cleaning for the clue that led me to the 1st bandage fix….

 

Maybe a clue and more info… before I removed the battery last night, while I was moving the wires around looking for something… the bell and lights would go off and on like there was a short or loose connection. Had a similar problem last summer and swapped the starter but had it done professionally. I paid the price for Denso starter…

 

Sounds like you have a bad terminal, or broken cable. This is probably one of the more common causes of random problem. Was it the positive line/terminal or negative line/terminal that caused that?

I, too, had the click-click-click trying to turn the truck over a few months back. It only happened every 3rd or 4th trip. The issue? The GD battery terminal was not quite tight enough. It was tight enough it a fair bit of force to wiggle the terminal, but it shouldn't be able to move at all.

Tightened it down. No more click-click-click for months.

I'd also warn you, for whatever reason, corrosion inside the cables on these trucks is pretty normal too.

 

Thank you sir.. that’s all it was… I’m building a nice little emergency tool and part kit for this truck,.,

 

Yeah, if there was a door open and you were possibly checking tightness of battery terminal, you were causing a normal reaction. As shifty mentioned, loose battery terminal can run you ragged, usually away from problem.

 

Okay.. I think I can wrap up this thread. Hopefully. After re doing all the battery cables, negative & positive, the truck seems to running great. I replaced all spark plugs and coil overs. Fuel filter, air filter, MAF sensor, crankshaft position sensor and a bad thermostat. Then Bubba W ask me to check the EFI #2 fuse in the engine compartment. It was empty..! I’m pretty sure I am the one who caused my initial problem of 1st crank die, 2nd crank start and hesitating and bucking when punching it. My guess is I accidentally put the 10A fuse in the slot just above the EFI #2 spot that’s supposed to be empty! Stupid…. No warning lights and driving really good on my way back home on the 250 mile trip.. THANK YOU… you guys rock. I put new Cooper AT’s on it and got an alignment… next is a new windshield and I suppose I will learn a little bit about body work and replace the damage done from the deer encounter…