TOY: Notes from the Field (well, driveway)

[emadden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Eli Madden)]

Last Friday I hopped into my truck, pushed in the clutch, and turned the
key. CLICK. No start! I pushed the clutch-start switch, but it didn't help.

I had "put it away wet" the Sunday-night before, after a hard and muddy 3
days of wheeling, combined with approx. 150+ miles each way. And I've been
wheeling it a lot recently.

My old '83 did this once, and the problem turned out to be a broken cable
from the battery to starter. It looked ok on this one. I took the starter
out (14mm nut above, 14mm bolt below), and tested it. It activated and
spun just fine. I noticed that the connector for the solenoid wire was
pretty dirty, so I cleaned it thoroughly and put the starter back in.

It didn't start.

I then re-attached the cable to the battery (woops) and it started right
up!

The connector for the solenoid can be reached right through the inner
fender. You'll need to remove the rubber mud-flap fender-liner. It's an
easy check if your truck isn't starting.

Just thought I'd pass it on for the archives. It also reminded me I should
pull the starter out of my '83 to carry as a spare.

Eli Madden
Middlebury, VT
EMadden@acsu.k12.vt.us
www.EliMadden.com
'88 Longbed 4x4 w/ 34 x 9.5 Swampers, welded rear diff, big skidplate,
half-snorkel, ECU in glovebox