UH-OH...First Starter...now no starting!

[Canadianron]

1997 B2500 6cyl.

I thought the starter was going on my van since recently you would go to start it and it would start to crank...for only a fraction of a second, then nothing. Usually jogging the key a time or two would get the starter turning and (as always) the van then started right up. It's always been an easy starter.

Today I got another starter and went to start the van to drive it up on my ramps to swap it out. The old starter really did not want to go. I jogged the key probably 5 or 6 times before it would turn the engine over...now it turns it over but the engine just cranks and cranks and cranks without firing? What gives?

I checked all the fuses in the box under the hood...everything looks OK there.

Thought maybe the computer needed to be "reset" or something so I disconnected the battery for about 5 minutes then tried again...nothing but endless cranking with no firing. Obviously no spark.

I also tried holding the gas pedal to the floor and cranking...not even one pop out of it. Left it sit for 1/2 an hour and tried it again...same thing. Frustrating thing is now the old starter seems to go every time!

When I was turning the key ON/OFF several times to jog the stater have I inadvertently triggered some signal to the computer that stopped it from working?

What the heck????? Can anybody help me out here? I need my van for tomorrow:dunno:

[alloro]

When I was turning the key ON/OFF several times to jog the stater have I inadvertently triggered some signal to the computer that stopped it from working?

Nope.

You're starter problem could've been the battery connection, which you fixed by doing an R&R of the terminal.

[alloro]

Do you have spark, is it getting fuel?

[Canadianron]

You're starter problem could've been the battery connection, which you fixed by doing an R&R of the terminal.

Nope.

Starter was cranking over the engine fine before I R&R'd the battery terminal in an attempt to "reset" the computer.

Been pissing rain here all afternoon and got tired of working out in it trying to get it started. Haven't checked for spark yet...it either isn't there or isn't delivered at the right time (timing chain jumped????) Doubt it's fuel as it hasn't even popped once since jogging the key to get the starter to turn.

May have to wait until Monday now to borrow a friend's code reader.

[Canadianron]

The story so far....

Fuel pump starts up with key on.

No spark.

Pulled coil wire connector and checked for voltage with key on. No voltage in either gray or green/orng wire when checked to -ve ground. 12V in green/orng when checked against +ve terminal even with key off. Dead short somewhere in wiring harness? The only wiring diagram I have says the green/orng should be off the +ve lead.... If it was shorted out somewhere why don't I have any blown fuses???

Checked green/orng wire where it goes into starter relay...grounded as well. Don't think it should be.

Checked Starter Relay and swapped with AC Relay...no change.

Swapped "Auto Shut Off Relay" with AC Relay...no change.

Hooked up OBDII code reader...no codes in ECM.

Help!!



PS:...it appears that my intermittent starter problem was a corroded connection at the starter. For some reason the battery cable is bolted on a copper bar, which in turn is bolted to the starter. Where that bar had a 90 degree bend in it was corroded and had been arcing. Guess I have a spare starter now!