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1993 GMC Sierra 2500/bad solenoid??
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gizzardgutz
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Jan 3, 2010, 11:53 AM
Post #1 of 9
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1993 GMC Sierra 2500/bad solenoid??
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Hello, hope everyone had a great holiday! My daughter recently bought another 3/4 ton GM pickup. 1993 Sierra, 350, 4 wheel drive, automatic w/long bed and ext. cab. The problem is just starts with the key one time daily when it's cold. I've changed the solenoid three different times, three different manufacturers, and it hasn't fixed the problem. It starts every time, jumping across the solenoid with a screwdriver. On the older GM makes, changing the solenoid fixed the problem, not so with this one. The truck is in great cosmetic shape, high mileage and runs very well, everything else seems to work as designed. There are only two wires going to the solenoid, hot cable from the battery and 12 ga. from the ign., where the older ones had three, one on either side of the solenoid. The only schematic I have been able to find confirms this. Any ideas as to what the problem could be would be highly appreciated. Hope this is clear enough to understand, THANKS in advance for any help!
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chickenhouse
Enthusiast
Jan 3, 2010, 1:50 PM
Post #2 of 9
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Re: 1993 GMC Sierra 2500/bad solenoid??
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Sounds like it would be very odd to get 3 bad solenoids in a row- not to mention the original. The 12 GA wire should be on the S terminal (some replacement solenoids may have 2 small terminals). May lean tward the ignition switch on the column, under the dash. Some others may may chime in with other ideas also.
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steve01832
Veteran
Jan 3, 2010, 3:31 PM
Post #3 of 9
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Re: 1993 GMC Sierra 2500/bad solenoid??
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You may want to start by probing the wire on the S terminal with a test light connected to ground while an assistant holds the key in crank. It could be a bad neutral safety switch. Also, try cranking it in neutral. If it cranks in neutral but not in park, replace the neutral safety switch.
Steve
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gizzardgutz
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Jan 3, 2010, 5:25 PM
Post #4 of 9
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Re: 1993 GMC Sierra 2500/bad solenoid??
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I'm leaning towards replacing the ign. module (or whatever they call it) on the bottom of the steering column next. I wanted some feedback first tho, thanks for replying!
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gizzardgutz
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Jan 3, 2010, 5:28 PM
Post #5 of 9
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Re: 1993 GMC Sierra 2500/bad solenoid??
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She's gone to a wedding shower right now, I hadn't thought to try this, altho several people have mentioned that the neutral safety switch might be the problem. Thanks, when she gets home I'll try this.
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gizzardgutz
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Feb 22, 2010, 7:45 PM
Post #6 of 9
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Re: 1993 GMC Sierra 2500/bad solenoid??
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OK, the truck still will only start one time, the first time every morning with the key, but, every time jumping across solenoid with a screwdriver. Since OP, new battery cable to starter, new ground cable to battery, new battery, new starter switch on steering column under dash and replaced the neutral safety switch new. And, no, the truck only starts in Park. Will not start in any other gear, keys locked out from turning. One new development though, that’s why the new post. Using a standard 12v hot wire tester, needle point with a light bulb and wired with ground clamp to the frame, point inserted into the wire (from the switch) to the solenoid, the light bulb lights and the trucks starts every time. Remove the tester and truck needs the screwdriver to start again. Insert tester, truck starts with the key??? WTF?? I’m ready to take this truck into the desert and have a major bonfire!!  Any comments?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 23, 2010, 5:18 AM
Post #7 of 9
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Re: 1993 GMC Sierra 2500/bad solenoid??
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You've done a lot of possible stuff. That test light response is funky and I know it's not funny that problem persists.
Seems like a problem with trigger wire for some reason??
Wild idea to try - add good ground from block to body metal. Use jumper cables for a test - just good metal of engine block to good body ground and see it that helps. If so add one or find a broken/poorly connected ground strap,
T
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gizzardgutz
User
Feb 23, 2010, 2:09 PM
Post #8 of 9
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Re: 1993 GMC Sierra 2500/bad solenoid??
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Thanks for your response. A friend has already suggested a motor to frame ground is required for these vehicles. I remember the older trucks and cars as having them, too. Does this truck have one?? It's not evident, but with all of the snow and rain in SE NM I haven't had a chance to really look. Snowed again last nite, too. The test light suggests a simple solution, if I can decipher the message. A ground is what this suggests? Apparently so, since your the second person with experience to say this. One good thing about this experience is that my 25 yr old daughter and 22 yr old son will be able to jump start a GM vehicle with a screw driver for the rest of their lives. An experience they'll never forget!Thanks again for your response Tom, it is appreciated!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 23, 2010, 2:36 PM
Post #9 of 9
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Re: 1993 GMC Sierra 2500/bad solenoid??
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It has several bare, braided ground straps about the vehicle. They do fail even if they look ok. Replace or add (use care where) new ones. Battery to block is the battery cable. It's all rubber isolated so you need (most all vehicles since the wheel) grounds for body, body to frame and I've seen them exhaust to frame too! Dash on many would have an extra ground for items. You can have power but it has to have a clear path back to battery or strange karma can happen
Since trigger wire seems to be the touchy spot NOT the main power as that is direct from battery to solenoid and starter is grounded to block but if (like said - wild guessing) the trigger wire from your key isn't just so it's a maybe that's the issue.
Look at firewall to frame - near certain you can see one there looking down under heater hoses and others about the thing. Trust me, GM didn't add them to waste wire!
T
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