Chevy S10 starter: long story, but kind of funny?
OK, I'm giving this one last try. I've asked everybody except Marlan Davis at HOT ROD Magazine, and no one seems to know. I have a '95 S10, V6 with automatic. the starter on it is passive-aggressive or something. Sometimes when I turn the key to "START", there is no sign of life from the starter. No click, no rattle, no slowly cranking over – it's like the switch is in "ON" instead of "START". I have dash lights and radio and all of that crap, but no starter. Has to be the solenoid, right? Went to take the solenoid off, and one of the bolts snapped off thanks to our Illinois salt orgies. Bought a rebuilt starter. A couple weeks later, it acted up. two different starters can't do that, can they? it has to be the ignition switch. I replaced the ignition switch 2 or 3 times. it still acts up. Must be the neutral switch. Replaced that. still acts up, but at least it always starts when I turn the key and hit the steering wheel. Well, not anymore. I was stuck in Streator, IL for 9 hours one day because I didn't take my cellphone. Streator cops won't help people with car trouble, either. when my wife finally picked me up, the little puke started right up. This Friday I went to Subway. came out, tried to start it, pounded on the steering wheel, called it names; it wouldn't start. After the tow truck dropped it off in the driveway, it started right up. Saturday I took the bill to State Farm (right next to Subway, lol) and it wouldn't start. I walked home to get my Blazer, which needed a battery. Drove to Autozone and swapped in a new battery in the parking lot. On the way home, I stopped at State Farm to see if the truck would start. No. the tow truck guy showed some interest in buying it, so I started cleaning all my crap out of it right in the parking lot. He could come and get it there. I didn't have bags to hold all of my junk, so I was going to head home. thought I'd give it another try, FIVE MINUTES after my last attempt. Started right up. is there something wrong with S10 starters? my 2000 Blazer hasn't done this. Everyone suggests everything I've already replaced. is my truck just evil? is it the reincarnation of Christine? It's close to the same color. I can't afford to own two cars anymore, thanks to the d-bags I work for, but it just bothers me that this truck does this. everything else on it works great. any Chevy and especially S10 experts have an idea what's wrong?
Check the wires going to the starter. I have an 85 S10 when I replaced the starter recently I had the same issue. I found I had pinched one of the small wires and once trimmed and a new connector on it I have had no problem. good Luck!
