do you have the sunroof? mine does the same thing only during a heavy rain when parked, not if im rolling. there is a drain that runs from the sunroof down the A pillar you should check. again IF you have the sunroof, if you don't then ?

 

When ever I buy a starter or alternator from any parts house, I have them test the brand new component before I take it home to install. I once had a Ford grenade...oops sorry a Ford Granada that went through a series of starters and come to find out; ALL of the new starters the parts house had were bad (all 7 of them). The new starters would not even turn over in the parts house or they were reading to high of current to pass the functional test. Food for thought when you go and get new parts...
New to the forum because I just bought a 2004 suburban to add to the fleet.

 

The vehicle does have the sunroof - ironically it is a plastic POS also, which my mechanic 360automotiverepair.com cannot get repair parts for either. How is the sunroof related to all of this?

RE

 

whats up Greg im new here just wondering witch relay starter or ignition Ill try any thing. I am going throw this crazy prob. for a wile now but has got much worse especially when damp or raining...

 

I am having all the above problems it's a pain in the a**!! I am going to get a new key made tomorrow bc that sounds the easiest and cheapest lol but I also used to have a key ring full of things and I now just have one key. The guy at the car toys told me he thought it was the ignition switch but I do have the remote start alarm on it as well! I will keep looking on here to see if anyone gets this issues fixed for good! Thank you all for the advice!

 

Britnee,

My issue was fixed with a new starter. I'll sell you the high end NewRockies security system bypass module for a discount if you cant get yours to work... haha, no - seriously, it was wired in and didn't fix my problem. I'd rather fix yours than send it back to NewRockies. My truck has started every time, hundreds of times to-date, since the starter was replaced.

RE

 

There are two relays that change state when you turn your key. One you hear because its in the panel on end of dash by driver door. The other is under hood at main fuse block area. The one under the hood is the one that engages the starter solenoid. Its labeled starter big and square. You can swap it with the one for your head lights to make sure its good ( there are 3 or 4 that are the same relay). You can also pop the cover of the relay off with a small screwdriver, (there are two little spots on prong side opposite of each other along outer edge) and watch it switch back and forth when your turn on and off the key. If it doesn't move its either your neutral switch or your ignition switch. You can turn the key and watch it. It will have a very very small spark you can see too. However, if it moves but your hear no clicking at the starter then you either have a loose wire on the starter or your plunger is stuck. If you tap on the starter solenoid and it starts your plunger probably has surface rust on it. Very common problem because it sets under AC lines drip zone. A little condensation with surface rust it can grow over night and stick plunger. Once it starts rusting it will become more weather related, humid days or spring time thaws will make it happen more. You can usually pull starter, remove solenoid and scotchbrite the plunger and spray a good silicone spray on a shop rag and wipe the plunger and the inside of the housing. Just try to keep it off the Copper plunger ring and contacts inside the housing. This will usually let you get the rest of the life out of the starter. Side note the condition of the copper ring will be an indication of how much life is left in the starter. if it has minor pits and black spots that's normal and odds are you will get years and years out of it but if chunks are missing or it has melted spots on it then you might want to consider replacing it because it has been abused and close to end of life.


If the starter is clicking then your jump it and it starts probably battery voltage problem either bad battery or a drain on your batter, The alternator can cause battery drain, when key is off if the field voltage rectifier doesn't turn off.... basically the alternator is trying to charge the batter while vehicle is off so it keeps field winding energized, which will put a slow drain on your batter. Quick test if this is the case. when you park your Tahoe pop the hood and unplug the alternator. you don't have to unbolt the battery feed just unplug the harness out of the alternator. Again a very very common problem with this style of alternator. Again it could be a light left on or something but when nothing is obvious, unplug the alternator when you park it over night... just be sure to plug it back in when you get ready to leave the next morning. Write a not stick it on the dash..you'll thank me


IF jumping doesn't start a clicking starter then your contacts are bad in the solenoid or bearings are bad and its binding the starter. If you keep clicking the starter and it finally starts, again its bad contacts or binding starter bearings....either way its just best to replace the starter because the contacts usually are rated for the end of life of other starter components.


While you are under the truck wrestling the starter out... remember if you don't want to be doing this next year... BUY A 100% NEW STARTER!! Odds are it will last you the rest of the life of the truck. Well worth the piece of mind, especially if its your wife's Tahoe


Its 30min of trouble shooting that can save 1000's of dollars on guess work.

 

Figured I would update everyone with our status on this issue. A couple months ago the family took our Tahoe to the local Wally World for fun and merriment. When we went to leave truck would not start. Lights, radio, fans, etc. ALL came on and worked normal using battery power, but not even the slightest noise from starter. I must have tried the key 50 times... over and over, then letting it sit and trying again. Every time not a peep. I got the tire iron out, crawled under the truck and rapped on the starter 8 or 10 times and crawled out. Truck fired up on the first turn of the key. I kept truck running and drove right to parts store, bought a new starter and installed after we got home. Since then not a problem....

 

Thanks for all the great information everyone. This is the best thred I have found on this issue and have been looking for a while.

I am stumped tho. I have a no turn starting issue. Problem started a few months back very intermittent then I changed my starter thinking that was the problem. Problem went away for about a week and came back. Then I figured out if I would just mess with my relays the truck would start right up. Now all the sudden it's harder to get it to start even with playing with the relays. Checked them all still working but no turn over from the motor. When the key is turned to start position all the lights and accessories come on still. Starter has power and turns over if I use a wire to touch the solenoid starter will turn.

I am thinking it's either ignition or the neutral safey switch. Thoughts?

 

Sorry I am just now seeing this!! But I did get 2 new keys made back when I made this post and I have not had any starting issues since. Crazy to think a new key was the simple fix to my problem. But the Tahoe is still up and running great thank you though!!