I just finished doing a trans oil change, engine oil change (and PCV valve), coolant flush (used the same coolant that was in there and changed the thermostat too), and fuel filter swap. Drove maybe 10K, the truck sat overnight and in the morning, nothing. Wont engage at all. 3 lights are on the dash. Oil pressure/Coolant temp, battery, and service engine soon. I have been searching for possible causes and cant find anything. Oil levels are fine and the coolant is not frozen. Tried boosting it for a while. No dice. Any suggestions?


Cheers,
James

 

Please be more descriptive when you say "nothing".

Do the headlights work? Horn?
Do you hear the solenoid click?
Do the headlights go out or go real dim if you turn the key to "start" with the headlights on?
Have you tried taking it out of Park and put it in neutral - also wiggle the lever up and down toward R and D while turning the key?
Have you tried removing the battery cables, cleaning the terminals and the posts, and reconnecting them?

 

Lights and horn work. The solenoid does not click and I do not hear the fuel pump engage. Nothing dims when I try to start it either. I haven't tried putting it in N or wiggling it around. I did remove the battery cables and clean them up. I left them off for about 30 minutes to try and re-set any codes that may have been triggered. I feel like something might have happened when I used my remote start for the last time. Maybe coolant was trapped in the block and overheated by the time I got out there? Is it possible that an overheat would trigger a code telling the truck not to start?

 

Update* Going to replace the starter relay and see what happens. I think it would be too convenient that a relay would go when I just happened to do a bunch of work on it, but I am out of ideas.

 

The starter relay won't cause the fuel pump not to come on. It should run for a second as soon as you turn the key On, before you turn it to Start.

 

GLC you are my hero. I guess the shifter is just sloppy on this old girl. I went through all the gears like you said and it started normally! I think I was just too paranoid that I messed something up to check the simple stuff.

Cheers,
James

 

Your TRS (transmission range selector) down at the transmission is also the neutral safety switch. It may be shot or needs proper adjustment.

 

Check the shifter at the bottom of the steering column, there is a bracket where the cable attaches. The screws get loose or fall out and throws it out of adjustment.

 

I remember looking at that wondering what it was! I will check it out.
Ok jgger. I was going to figure out what needed to be replaced on the shifter. I will keep an eye out for missing hardware. Thank you for the help! Much appreciated

 

If the bracket under the column is loose, it will usually cause the pointer in the PRNDL to be off.

 

It will also cause the cable to be out of adjustment. The PRNDL indicator pulls from a different location IIRC.

 

Sorry for the late reply. I looked under the steering wheel and those screws holding the shifter were about to fall out! Tightened them and it is as good as new.

 

I love a cheap fix!