GMC Repair: Engine Coolant/ Starting the Car, neutral safety switch, gmc yukon

Question
Sorry, It is a 98 GMC YUKON, 4WD. V8.  I just had the battery replaced 1 month ago.  Does this change anything? Thanks a LOT for the help.


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Followup To
Question -
Sometimes after driving my, over short and long distances, the engine won't crank at all when I try to restart it.  It most recently happened after I had driven about 10 minutes and came home. When I went back out 20 minutes later, it wouldn't start.  When I turn the ignition, nothing happens.  The lights and radio and gauges all come on, but nothing AT ALL happens when the key is turned to the ON position.  

A friend of mine said it may be a security blanket around the starter that gets too hot and won't allow the car to start.

I also have taken it to the Chevy dealership near my house and they can't find anything wrong with it. They have checked the starter, altenator, and coolant system and can find nothing wrong.  

Please let me know if you have any suggestions at all. I am down to my last straw and will have to get a new car if I can't figure out how to solve this problem
Answer -
About the ONLY thing you told me about your car is that it is a CHEVY.

NO YEAR, NO MODEL, NO MILEAGE, NO ENGINE SIZE, NO PAST REPAIR HISTORY, NO NOTHING other than it's a CHEVY.

Without knowing ALL of the above the only things that are common to most vehicles with this symptom is what is called a TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE component. Of which is usually one or a combination of the following items:


1. Intermittent fault in the battery.

2. Intermittent fault in the starter.

3. Internally corroded battery cable(s).

4. Intermittent fault in the electrical ignition switch mounted under the dash on the steering column.

5. Intermittent fault in the NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH also located near the electrical ignition switch.


I just had this same question last week and I gave the SAME possibilities and I had him install a KNOWN GOOD battery and see if his problem was resolved. It was NOT.

I then told him to replace BOTH battery cables and replace the starter.

This DID resolve his problem.

Above are your choices for your UNKNOWN chevy.



autohelp

Answer
IT sure DOES. This is almost the IDENTICAL vehicle that I spoke about earlier.

Next time this happens, Either utilize a KNOWN GOOD battery or use jumper cables from another vehicle and see IF the vehicle now starts.

ALWAYS keep in mind: "JUST BECAUSE A PART IS "NEW", DOES "NOT" mean it is 100% operational. Try another battery or use jumper cables and let me know what happens.

If the vehicle statrs using another KNOWN GOOD battery or via jumper cables from another vehicles battery, Your battery and or battery connections are faulty.

Think back years ago when you would have to cut off the battery end at the battery because the 1/2 bolt broke off and you could NOT tighten it.

When you cut off the broken end you saw a white powdery residue (corrosion) within the cable. You stripped back the insulation and saw thst the copper wiring was discolored and had to go back several inches in order to find good looking copper wire.

Such is the case with ALL battery cables. I would STRONGLY recommend that you replace BOTH battery cables FIRST.

I have seen numerous batteries, stsrters, and hundreds of dollras spent trying to fix the problem and when it was finally brought to my shop as a LAST RESORT, A $6.00 battery cable was the FIX.

NEVER over look the OBVIOUS.



autohelp