Won't start & burning out Starter relay, V-6.

10

Asked by Eaglerose Jan 09, 2017 at 03:01 PM about the 2003 GMC Sonoma SLS Crew Cab 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Truck just up and would not start. Not enough juice
in truck to even unlock doors. I jumped it and took
an hour on the relay charge to even get the dash
lights to come on. Put new battery. All lights, locks
& etc fine. Still will not even turn over. No clicking or
anything. I looked at starter relay and decided to
switch it with another relay because they are exact
same. Made the switch and the truck started right
up but died real quick. Like the old vehicles did
when they were carbureted and cold. Went to start
again and it is just nothing again. Lights and all are
ok. It is frying starter relays. WHY?  Truck has been
sitting basically since my husband passed away in
Aug 2016, and rarely started.  Also upon it being
driven about 10-12 blocks in late Aug, the check
engine light had popped on but I haven't had a
chance to check to see what code it was throwing.
Hoping that with it sitting sonling with what seems
to be a totally dead dead battery, that the code is
still there now to check. Now for a bit of a twist,
there has been a few people noticing it sitting and
have been bugging me to sell it & rather insistant
that I sell it as an "as is" vehicle. IT IS NOT an as is
truck. It is a sharp little truck, rather harder to find
little 4 door, 4X4 truck.  One guy has been literally
harassing me to sell it to him dirt cheep. I wonder if
he hasn't sabatoged the truck to give me a reason
to sell it cheep?  Maybe maybe not. A thought
though but I can not think of what he could have
done to make it do this. Anybody have a truly good
suggestion as to what may be wrong or where I go
next?  I am a cancer survivor and on a very limited
income, so just taking it to a good shop to figure it
out is not going to happen. Electrical problems get
to expensive to just diagnosis. Any Erich's good
suggestions, I need fast!  Even email me with the
subject of "relay" would be great too. Thanks!   
cindystewart440@yahoo.com

2 Answers

10

Check battery positive and ground cables clean and no corrosion and where it bolts to starter and engine. Second, could be the braided ground strap from back of engine to firewall is broke or needs cleaned to get good ground.

1 people found this helpful.
10

Hey thanks! I ended up finally getting to the bottom of it. I actually had the truck sitting for awhile and the silly starter was locked up and banging on it got it to start but it ended up quitting all together. So now I am looking at having to change the starter.

1 people found this helpful.

Your Answer:

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    parkle
    Reputation
    1,090
  • #2
    Mike Bonnell
    Reputation
    660
  • #3
    James Mayfield
    Reputation
    410
View All

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Chevrolet S-10
2 listings
Used Chevrolet Colorado
33 Great Deals out of 1,144 listings starting at $4,951
Used Nissan Frontier
16 Great Deals out of 556 listings starting at $8,688
Used GMC Canyon
25 Great Deals out of 845 listings starting at $5,975
Used GMC Sierra 1500
145 Great Deals out of 7,761 listings starting at $4,944
Used Chevrolet Silverado 1500
173 Great Deals out of 7,285 listings starting at $6,995
Used Ford Ranger
26 Great Deals out of 715 listings starting at $6,495
Used Toyota Tacoma
39 Great Deals out of 825 listings starting at $9,975
Used Ford F-150
298 Great Deals out of 13,634 listings starting at $3,888
Used Dodge Dakota
18 listings starting at $3,995

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.