[claws342]

i have a1981 c30 chevy wont start. I put a starter, battery, battery cables, ignition switch, ingition lock cylinder. The horn & lights work. no power to the dash

[T-bucket23]

Wont crank or cranks and wont start.
Is it a standard or automatic.
Could be a blown fusible link or broken ground wire.

[claws342]

thanks t-bucket 23 it has a standard in it

[T-bucket23]

So does it crank and not fire or does it not crank at all.
Were th symptoms the same before you changed all those parts?

[claws342]

it doesn't crank, the same thing happen befor i put the parts in it

[EOD Guy]

Could be a clutch switch, Do you have easy access to the starter? 12 volts applied to the s terminal will engage the starter...... make sure it's in neutral and the emergency brake is applied. If it turns over.... I'd say it's the clutch sw.

[claws342]

thanks i will look and see if i have one tomorrow let you know.....

[EOD Guy]

Make sure you have the purple wire on the s terminal..... that is if you have two wires going to the starter.

[T-bucket23]

If everything is dead it wouldn't be the clutch switch. Most likely you have a broken ground between the cab and the engine or you popped a fusible link.

[topwrench]

Easy stuff
Take a pair of good jumper cables
Put the trans in neutral
Jack rear end up for safety n put jackstands under frame.
Run Pos of jumper cable from Pos of battery to hot terminal on starter big terminal
Run negative of jumper from batt neg to a starter mounting bolt
make sure connections are good
take a small wire and put on batt pos
Get under truck and touch small wire to start terminal on starter
There r 2 terminals on stater I and S you want to tuch the wire to S
If it turns over the problem is in the wiring
S terminal on starter should have full voltage when key is in start position
at that point you cancheck for other stuff
Clutch pedal switch
wiring etc.

[EOD Guy]

OP stated horn and lights work....

[topwrench]

Originally Posted by EOD Guy

OP stated horn and lights work....

But he also stated wont start
This is what Im trying to help him with

[T-bucket23]

Originally Posted by EOD Guy

OP stated horn and lights work....

They usually don't go through the fusible links or fuses for that matter.

[claws342]

I am checking all the wires connection and the fuseable link..

[75gmck25]

Since you replaced the ignition switch, I assume you had some problems in that area. You may also have a problem with the "rod and rack" in the column that connects the ignition lock to the electrical switch that's mounted lower in the column.

The rack is a small pot metal loop that connects the end of the ignition switch/lock to a rod. That rod runs down the column to the electrical part of the switch. If the rack is broken you may not be able to get the rod to move enough to engage the starter.

Testing - Put it in neutral and turn the ignition on. Then jumper the small S terminal on the starter over to the large lug. If it turns over and starts, you have a problem with the ignition switch circuit. Its either the switch or the wiring to the ignition switch.

To replace the ignition switch rack (the rod usually does not break) you need to pull the steering wheel, horn and turn switch mechanism. Then pull off the upper part of the column (the tilt wheel part) and you can reach the rack to replace it. There are several places online with instructions on how to take it apart.

Bruce