could the throttle position sensor have anything to do with a starting problem? when i turn the key, all i get is a single click, and it sounds like it's coming from the fender mounted relay. i've replaced that along with the plugs, wires, cap and rotor, and still the same thing happens. or could it be the ignition coil? oh yeah, it's a '93 302. any ideas?

 

Check the battery ground. Will it start right up with a jump?

 

If the lights stay dead for a moment AFTER you release the key, it's definitely a bad connection on one of the heavy battery cables. Remove, clean, & tighten every terminal on both wires (including on the block).

If you just get the click, but the headlights continue to work, it's either the starter or the starter relay.



If the lights only go off WHILE you're holding the key at START, it's the battery.

 

so it wouldn't have anything to do with the tps or the ignition coil? yes, my headlights still come on, and no it doesn't start right up with a jump. i've had the starter removed and tested. i'm clueless

 

My 91 would "click" on occasion and it turned out to be a dirty ignition switch. I sprayed it contact cleaner and WD-40 and it fixed my problem.

 

Rio J, did you have to take the ignition switch out when you sprayed it? and why wd40 with the cleaner?

 

My truck would just act up once or twice a week on average. I checked the grounds, battery cables, and everything else that was suggested in previous posts. I noticed if I turned the key to the accesory position then forward to the start position, it would fire right up. I just took the key out and sprayed the contact cleaner in the hole and then followed it with WD-40 for lubrication. It has hasn't given me any problems since and that was a year ago.

This may or may not be you problem but it's one more thing you can check off your list. Most of the time, it is a battery cable or ground problem.

 

No, the TPS & ignition coil have nothing to do with starter engagement. And I'm not asking if the headlights come on - I'm asking how they behave during cranking.That's not the ignition switch - that's the ignition lock cylinder, and your '91 column is VERY different from his '93.



The ignition switch is on top of the column, under the dash.



Both of those are specific to pre-'92 TILT columns, but the ig.sw. & lock cyl. are identical to non-tilts. For diagrams & photos of '92-up columns, click the tan CV in my signature & look in the Steering Column album.

 

Next time it doesn't want to start, connect one of your jumper cables betweenthe (-) terminal on the battery and the engine block. If it starts then the problem is the ground cable. This is a known problem area on these trucks. The ground cable tends to corrode rather badly at the intermediate chassis ground.

 

So Strangeranger, With The Ignition In The Key On Position, I Clamp One End Of A Ground Jumper Cable To The - Terminal On The Battery, And Touch The Other End Of The Cable To The Block? Does It Have To Be The Block? Can It Be Any Metal Surface?

 

Ignition key off
Clamp one end of cable to battery negative
Clamp other end of cable to BLOCK. This completes the ground circuit to the starter motor.
Turn key from off to start.

Does it start?

 

well, i put a new ground cable on and the first few tries it fired right up, but now it's doing that click thing again, and it's only starting once in a while. what now? i swear it never ends!