Chevy 1987 454 starting relay clicks off

100

Asked by robeyw May 04, 2018 at 03:30 AM about the 1987 Chevrolet R/V 30 LB RWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

The ignition switch gets it's power from the battery via some switching device. To start the engine, power from that point is connected to a power relay (Chevy calls it a magnetic switch) which inturn applys that same voltage to the starting solenoid on the starter when activated. The problem is that when the start switch connection is made, the relay clicks and the power to the switch and relay contact is removed (reads about .2 volts) and seems to stay that way till the battery is disconnected for some time exceeding  10 minutes. The battery is new and the current pulse from it is too short to show anything on a multi-meter. What could cause this to happen and what device is shutting off the power?

The related car information shown is wrong because the correct options  are not provided. Based on the Light Duty Truck service manual, it is a P30 base built into a motor home by Fleetwood and the actual ignition switch is not known to the local Chevy parts department.

4 Answers

100

Another thought: If I knew the coil resistance or running current for the relay and starting solenoid, I could check them and if there is no problem I could defeat the circuit that is cutting out by adding a fused wire from battery to the ignition switch, so how much current should these 2 devices use?

3 people found this helpful.
100

A Chevy mechanic thinks the unknown device is an Fleetwood add on. As I was looking for it, I found a intermittent ground and after fixing it the unknown device is not triggered and the engine starts fine.

7 people found this helpful.
30

need help with 1982 fleetwoot tioga mototrhome it wont engine turn on, can it be the fuel pump?

3 people found this helpful.
100

10 ml gas into the carb is enough to let it run a few seconds, if it does not run, the problem is elsewhere.

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    robeyw
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