help diagnosing a no start no crank with lights radio and blower all functional

[VikingTrad3r]

today my 2006 Yukon XL Denali left my wife and kids stranded. She called saying that she was turning the key and all of the dash lights and radio in the blower would come on but the engine would not turn over. No history of this type of behavior in the vehicle as long as we have owned it which is a year and a half and we have put a lot of miles on it.

my wife's pretty smart gal, she checked a bunch of things from her iPhone on the web in terms of diagnostics tried some of them didn't work. Then she called me. I went down there with my key turn the ignition and it started.

I am on route driving home with the Yukon right now my wife is following behind me in case it craps out on me in the truck I drove to them in.

What would you guys recommend in terms of beginning a diagnostic procedure to figure out what happened. I have to get started immediately as my wife drives my three daughters around in this vehicle all day every day and I don't want to pay GM to do the diagnostics at the dealer.

 

[VikingTrad3r]

OK well I have arrived home safe and I turned the car off and restarted it successfully but then my climate control LCD display flashed and the LCD appears to have died could these be related?

it seems as though I have an electrical gremlins or am I jumping to conclusions

 

[VikingTrad3r]

OK when I start the truck I confirm that I get a flash on the climate control display and then it just goes blank

 

[VikingTrad3r]

and my wifes key is starting the car now too.

 

[VikingTrad3r]

lol. never mind on the dash lights for some reason the dimmer switch it been rolled all the way down.

doh.

I will shut up now and wait for responses to assist the diagnostics of why the vehicle had a no start no crank condition. All the lights were on everything functioned but the starter would not turn over. I was not present so I don't know if there was a click or if there is any noises at all simply a no start no crank.

One thing I think I can reload is the security, because my understanding is that when the security is locked it will allow a crank but no injector firing. My situation is that I did not even get to a crank.

Perhaps the key thing (how it worked on my key when I showed up after it been sitting for an hour and a half but was not working on her key is red herring distraction.

 

[VikingTrad3r]

nobody has had this happen to them?

 

[VikingTrad3r]

well if it does happen to others and they find this thread, here are the things i am checking:


ground wire, seems like a common issue:

fuses and relays test with more starter testing:

passlock:

ignition switch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtse8cUpi_c


neutral safety switch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIWcgsbLncA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd8F_904r5E



dropping and checking the starter:

dropping starter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpcqcvvlPig

checking the starter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAjMO3Zu88s




hopefully one of these is your issue and you can keep your money in your jeans.

i have not been able to re-create the no start no crank condition, even drove it all day today.
i'd rather not replace all of the above components but if i can't re-create it to carry out the tests above that's what i'll do.

cheers. happy easter.

 

[SLCHOE]

Probably just the starter. Next time it doesn't crank, have somebody hold the key in the crank position while you use something metallic (small hammer, prybar, deep socket) and tap on the starter. If it cranks when you tap on it, that's pretty definitive right there.

 

[VikingTrad3r]

Probably just the starter. Next time it doesn't crank, have somebody hold the key in the crank position while you use something metallic (small hammer, prybar, deep socket) and tap on the starter. If it cranks when you tap on it, that's pretty definitive right there.

thanks,


So my exact symptoms were that every normal electrical light, the radio, all dash lights..they all came up. just no crank.

ive ruled out the ign and starter relay because we replaced them while it had the no start condition and didnt change.

my symptoms were not indicative of a passlock fail because i didnt get a crank. passlock fail shuts down injectors (not sure if it shuts down pump, so not sure if testing for fuel pressure would be a wah to rule out passlock at key)

and because i had all dash lights, everything per normal on dash, im thinking its probably not the ignition switch. every video i see online seems to suggest they had lights going on and off the dash. we didnt have that.

so this leads me to the question of the prk neutral switch.

does anybody know the symptoms of the prk neutral switch faure?? what is disabled?

 

[clandr1]

I'll second the starter, but also suggest you check your battery terminal connections to make sure they are clean, tight, and fully seated. This exact same thing happened on my wife's Jeep. All interior lights would work, but when you turned the key to start the car nothing happened. Turned out her post terminals had slowly worked their way up the posts just enough to where there was contact, but not enough contact to handle a high amp draw from the starter.

I know ours have side terminals and not top posts, but still something to look at to ensure they are clean (not corroded) and fully seated.