Cold weather and no start.

[n8roro]

Batteries at 12.35V

It's about 28 degrees out.

Nothing at all when I turn the key after the wait light.

This shows on the dash:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8VMY3LrmBSvz2FV12

I plugged the heater in a couple hours ago and nothing changed.

Any advice?

 

[porkysplace]

I would start with charging the batteries .
https://www.autobatteries.com/en-us/battery-testing-and-maintenance/car-battery-voltage-and-testing

Edit ; this is a good thread on the starter system
CUCV - Starter Circuit

 

[Tinstar]

X2

Battery's are low and need charged.

That pic shows nothing.
Your voltmeter should show the status of the battery’s.

 

[n8roro]

The dash lights don't come on. The aux light does when I turn the headlight knob.

I have a portable jumper. I would connect that to the front battery correct?

 

[sandcobra164]

Please clarify what "nothing" means. Is the starter engaging but the truck is failing to fire off or is the starter not engaging at all? 12.35 volts is roughly 70% of where it should be, ideally you'd be showing 12.8 open circuit voltage. Having said that, I charged mine recently and both showed 70% on my smart charger when first connected. The truck started fine and has been run a decent amount recently. I tend to charge my batteries with a charger twice a year whether they need it or not. I got 10 years of service out of a pair of Hawker 6TAGM's in my Deuce, 9 years out of a standard lead acid battery in my Trans Am. It's a good maintenance practice as the alternators do not always keep them topped off like you would expect. Low state of charge is the death of a good battery.

 

[n8roro]

By nothing I mean the only effect of turning the key is the two lights on the photo I posed lighting up (temp and Brake). No solenoid thud, and no starter engaging, just quiet. This happened the other morning and when I tried in the afternoon it started right up.

Thanks for the help guys. I need to move the thing for street cleaning tomorrow morning.

 

[n8roro]

I was checking voltage at the purple wire with a white stripe to the black wire in the starter relay and it started up. Did I jump it or is did it just start on it's own?

5a fuse was loose so that was the dash light issue.

 

[BKubu]

Do you have two vehicles and two sets of jumper cables? Jump start the truck. As long as your batteries are not totally dead, and it doesn't sound like it, it should start. Then, move the truck to a location where you can troubleshoot/charge/replace/repair.

 

[frank8003]

If you ever get it running again just leave it run.
She was designed to do that.
Inspect everything while running.

Let Her run for a week or two while you watch.
It is a tactical military vehicle for war, She is not a Chevy

 

[n8roro]

It did start up and is in the garage now. It started while I tried to test for voltage on the starter relay purple/white wire. I let it run and then went to the store and left it running, so it ran for more than an hour. After dinner and it started right up with no wait light. I'll check the battery voltages and try to start it again in the morning. Is there a temp sensor that won't let it start if it is too cold? If not I guess I'll get a couple new batteries.

Any battery recommendations?

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

It is a tactical military vehicle for war, She is not a Chevy

*sigh*

It's a Chevy. A standard, off-the-shelf 1984 Chevy pickup with a very few minor military wrinkles, the biggest of which is the 24v/12v hybrid starting & GP system. Add a few lights, an interesting set of bumpers, and that's about it. The only thing "tactical" about it is the paint job and the BO lights.

It's a Chevy.

It did start up and is in the garage now. It started while I tried to test for voltage on the starter relay purple/white wire. I let it run and then went to the store and left it running, so it ran for more than an hour. After dinner and it started right up with no wait light. I'll check the battery voltages and try to start it again in the morning. Is there a temp sensor that won't let it start if it is too cold? If not I guess I'll get a couple new batteries.

Any battery recommendations?

One recommendation: diagnose the problem, first. There's no reason it shouldn't start at 28 degrees.

 

[n8roro]

I'm working on it. The batteries were at 12.7 each this morning and it started up with no hesitation so I don't think the batteries are the issue. I dropped the starter relay to test for voltage yesterday and it is still dangling. Weather was only slightly warmer today so I'm guessing tempermental relay or bad connections. Ordered the relay for the doghead mod since it's only 15 bucks. The only other thing I can think of is a loose wire somewhere in the starting circuit. That and I have not resolved the withe the gen 2 lighton the dash not lighting before startup.

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

I'm guessing tempermental relay or bad connections. Ordered the relay for the doghead mod since it's only 15 bucks. The only other thing I can think of is a loose wire somewhere in the starting circuit.

Sounds reasonable. Intermittent problems are the toughest to diagnose.

Wouldn't hurt to clean up your grounds. The starter relay should ground to a 6-positon grounding tab mounted up above your parking brake mechanism. Wouldn't hurt to give it a good cleaning and a light coat of dielectric grease.

 

[n8roro]

Thank you! I was wondering what was supposed to use that ground terminal. There was nothing there when I got the truck, and I have been using it to add accessories. I will trace the starter relay ground to see where it goes.

As a side question there is a cut wire that comes out from behind the fuse box that is black with a white stripe and looks to be 14ga. I think it was for the seat belt buzzer which was disabled by a previous owner. Can anyone confirm that is what the wire is?

 

[rosco]

When the batteries are a little low, the starter will turn the engine a little slower. When its a little cold, & especially when the engine has some mileage on it & piston/ring wear, the compression won't be quite up to snuff, & its a little cold too. All subtles. It will often not start. Change any of the above back & it will often take care of the problem. (12.15V is considered a dead battery).

 

[sneekyeye]

I have a blackwire with white stripe that is supposed to go to my seat belt on my m1028 wrapped in a loop tucked near my fuse box as well. Probably what you have cut

 

[n8roro]

Thanks Marcus, I value your advice. I did see the starter ground bolted to the frame at the 6 tab ground.

Thanks sneekyeye that makes me feel better.

Roscoe, thanks for the input. The starter was not engaging at all. On morning no starter or engine noise at all when I turn the key. Later on in the day it started right up. The other day same thing, then I dropped the relay and poked around and it has started ever since.

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

It sounds like the relay may have had some build-up on the contacts, and you broke it loose. I always hate it when a problem fixes itself, because you never know when it's going to pop up again, but... sometimes, you just have to keep an eye on it and hope it stays fixed.

Since you've done (or are going to do?) the doghead relay, that should take care of it if it was a bum relay.

 

[frank8003]

*sigh*
It's a Chevy. A standard, off-the-shelf 1984 Chevy pickup with a very few minor military wrinkles, the biggest of which is the 24v/12v hybrid starting & GP system. Add a few lights, an interesting set of bumpers, and that's about it. The only thing "tactical" about it is the paint job and the BO lights. It's a Chevy.

As seen in the rest of the world it'll get tactical real fast with mah Deuce mounted in the back. Maybe heavy enough for 20MM.

 

[LT67]

Just curious, does your truck have the 12 volt conversion?

22 degrees this morning and my M1008 fired right up. Lol, it took longer to unfreeze the doors so I could get into it.