Suburban Starter Relay

[the_Journeyman]

Dad's got a 1987 Suburban with the 350 V8 and Throttle body injection.  He doesn't have a service manual for it either.  It won't attempt to start, even after a new starter.  Anybody know where and how to test the starter relay? 

Google was a bit inclusive.

Thanks!

JM

[1KDS]

I think on Chevys of that vintage the solenoid is mounted on the starter itself, generally those are replaced with the starter motor.  Did you replace it and are you not getting 12v to the solenoid coil when turning the key to start?

[Dirty Duc]

A friend had had a K-5 blazer with suspect wiring... we added a secondary starter button and it worked fine.  It would appear the connections can be easily miswired to reduce voltage from the battery to the starter.

I hated that truck.  It drove terribly.  After he sold it, and the next owner "modified" the electricals somehow, it caught fire in Ohio.

[Howie]

Do you hear a click?  Just like your bike the solenoid will make an audible click.  Either way, as 1KDS said, the solenoid is on the starter.  There will be three terminals on the starter, the large one for the positive from the battery and two small one, one marked S and one marked R.  S is energized from the key when you start the truck.  If there is no voltage at the S terminal the probable suspects are a bad switch, fusible link to the starter solenoid, neutral safety switch if it has an automatic transmission, or wiring between.  The fusible link will be near the starter and can be felt as a slight difference in the wire.  It will be near the solenoid, crimped into the wire.  http://www.madelectrical.com/catalog/fusible-link.shtml  is what it is like.  A common cause of failure is reverse polarity when jump starting.

A Haynes manual for that Suburban is available,  http://www.haynes.com/products/productID/246  Good for the DYI person.  If it is not in that manual it is probably better left to a pro.  Before installing a rebuilt starter it is always a good idea to bench test it. 

[MendoDave]

Usually starter relays are under the dash someplace.

[the_Journeyman]

No click.  It's like hitting the starter button on a bike with the kill switch in off.  Nothing.  Starter is replaced with a rebuilt one from a shop that does quality work. 

I'll check on the fusible link & neutral switch.

JM

[Howie]

No click.  It's like hitting the starter button on a bike with the kill switch in off.  Nothing.  Starter is replaced with a rebuilt one from a shop that does quality work.  

I'll check on the fusible link & neutral switch.

JM

As Mendo Dave said there is also a relay at the fuse box under the dash, a regular relay, not a solenoid.  Also, does the truck have an aftermarket alarm with an immobilizer?

[Monsterlover]

Maybe he needs the red key?



Sorry, I got nothin.

[the_Journeyman]

No alarm or anything.  He's calling their mechanic to come pick it up, he's tired of fooling with it.

JM