Strange starting issue 2004 GMC Yukon

[buck thomas]

2004 GMC YUKON.

We’ve been trying to find an answer for this starting issue. The issue has existed for years. We have replaced the battery, bypassed the security system , and recently the electronic side of the key switch.

The symptoms:
1. It always occurs after car has been driven, but drive time doesn’t matter.
Returning to the vehicle, while car is still warm, key is turned and the starter won’t work. No lights, nothing.
2. We wait anywhere from 3-10 minutes and the vehicle starts.
3. It may not repeat for several months, or it could be a few days. No patten.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
But

 

[Doubeleive]

I would say if you have bypassed the security system then maybe the starter? I had one that had a flat spot or something, it would randomly not work, replaced the starter and problem was gone, next time it happens try smacking the starter with a hammer or a wrench and see if it starts then or maybe try putting the vehicle in gear and try rocking it back and forth a few times then try to start it again. could maybe even be the neutral safety switch.

 

[Matahoe]

What exactly do you

2004 GMC YUKON.

...while car is still warm,key is turned and the starter won’t work. No lights, nothing.

What exactly do you mean here? The starter has nothing to do with the lights besides the battery or ignition switch.

Please be specific. Are you saying you have no lights when you turn the ignition switch to start? That would be considered normal.

If you have no lights after the vehicle is warm then that would be considered another issue.

 

[Doubeleive]

ya I forgot they mentioned there were no lights, in that case you may want to start at the battery, test the battery and take off the terminals and clean them up real good even if they look ok. my brother in law had a similar problem this last spring, thought the starter was going out I pulled the starter out and bench tested it and it worked every single time, so then I went and checked the battery and it looked ok but as soon I took the terminals off a bunch of corrosion was on the inside, cleaned it all up put the starter back in off he went no problems since.

 

[RichieB37]

I'd check all of your relays and fuseable links as you stated that multiple systems are affected.

 

[buck thomas]

What exactly do you


What exactly do you mean here? The starter has nothing to do with the lights besides the battery or ignition switch.

Please be specific. Are you saying you have no lights when you turn the ignition switch to start? That would be considered normal.

If you have no lights after the vehicle is warm then that would be considered another issue.

 

[buck thomas]

Lights= Instrument cluster lights. Simple defined, key is turned and nothing happens. Wait 5-10 mins. Car starts normal. Car may driven for days, weeks, months and it never happens again until one day you run over to Walmart for milk and come back to the car and bam!- no start.
Wait 5-10 mins and it starts right up and you drive home.

 

[Searay45db]

Ok, yay got to,do better than this. Use a volt meter, to better yet, get a power probe III. Saves you a lot of time. Since you can set this up everytime, before you turn the car off, our up on ramps or jack stands. Don’t use a jack, don’t want your head squashed. Now go ahead and try and start it again, yes it won’t start. Now check the power at the solenoid and the battery. When the second person turns the key, you getting power? If your not sure where you are supposed to get it, leave it there till it will start. Ow work backwards, you are probably looking at a relay. Why? They stick. Use your vault meter which is a total PITA to get a PP and start testing for where you lose it. I had this happen on my kuboat tractor. Drove me nuts, it was an I termittem relay. Remember you Body Module is one big relay too.

 

[Matahoe]

swap starter relay with another.

 

[buck thomas]

With the exception of the starter being replaced, wouldn’t it be quicker to replace the relays in the start system?
Does anyone have a list, seems to be the consensus that it’s a sticky relay.