New to the forums. Have a 97 1500 4x4 w/ 90k miles. Was in and out of it all day....got back in and it won't turn over. Has power to electrics..headlights arn't dimming when I turn the key. Tapped on starter to see if that might help. Havn't had any sign that the starter was going though. Any ideas?

 

what noise does it make when you try to turn it over? Clicks, or normal sound just doesn't light up?

Also, listen carefully for the whine of the fuel pump when you go to start up. No pump, no fuel

 

doesn't make any sound at all. Hope that helps

 

I had the same problem a couple of times. One time it was the starter. There was a funny electrical smell around the truck. I crawled under and checked the starter and sure enough, it was toast. Does it have an odd smell? The other time came after I had done some work in the engine bay and interior. I went through and reseated all the connectors I came in contact with, and reseated all the fuzes. It cranked fine after that. I'd check all the fuzes in the cab and engine bay.

 

Just nothing? Probably the starter. Starters sometimes don't give any indication that they're going out, they just quit.

Did you hear the fuel pump? Sometimes it's easier to hear if you turn it to start but don't actually kick the engine over, but since you've got nothing, I wouldn't think it was that, as a working starter would crank the engine, but no fuel would just keep it from lighting up.

 

A guy I work with just had a similar issue. He replaced the battery and the starter with no luck. Ended up being a fuse in the truck. Don't know which one but worth checking them all......

 

Is it a manual? If so you may have a problem with the clutch safety switch.

Will

 

Checked and rechecked all the fuses to no avail. Went ahead and took the starter off and will have it tested tomorrow.