1988 C2500 crewcab 6.2l.

Started ran fine one day (moved a trailer around the parking lot). Next day turn key and get a "click" (starter solenoid I assume), no crank. Batteries are charged. Any bright ideas where to start on this.

hit the starter with a hammer ...check all the connections.... im goin through the same problem with my 93 right now... it only happens to me when i have clean clothes on

same thing happened to me the other day...only my solinoid stuck on!
luckily it was only the contactor that sends power to the motor that stuck...it sat there madly spinning,but not engaged!
had to pry off the ground terminal on my front batterie to kill it...then wacked it enough for it to unstick.
I suggest you simply buy a new solinoid assembly.there a jiff to install.i did mine in about an hour and a half...including starter removal and install.
only basic hand tools required.theres likely nothing wrong with either of your motors guys...just the contactor assembly on the back of the solinoid.
cost me 45$ can for a 24-volt assembly.way cheaper than a new 24-v starter.give it a shot...it's worth the effort.

Welcome to the forum!

Yep, sounds like a solenoid (as long as the batteries are good).

You can either buy a new solenoid (~$65) or you can repair the one you've got.

To fix your solenoid:

Drop the starter. Remove all the hardware retaining the cover on the end of the solenoid (the one on the end that has all the electrical connections on it). Pull the cover off. You will see two contacts and a contact ring. These will most likely look very burnt. Take the contacts out, clean them, and reinstall them. When you reinstall them, turn them around so that the burned area faces towards the outside of the solenoid. Then remove the C-clip holding the contact ring in place. Remove the ring and flip it over. Reinstall the C-clip. Put the cap back on the solenoid, install all the hardware, and reinstall the starter. That's all there is to it.

This procedure will have the same effect as installing a new solenoid without the cost. The solenoid will be as good as new. It isn't much more work than installing a new solenoid (after all, you have to remove the starter to install a new solenoid, and that is most of the work right there).

Good luck!

I wanted to go the cheap route too...but my contactors were so badly fried,it was a better option to replace than repair.too bad i didn't take the time for a few pictures....
comparing the effort/cost verses risk of another stuck contactor,it was a no brainer to replace.45$ and a little of my time seemed cheap enough to me.:)

Keep in mind, on CUCV trucks, there is an extra relay in the system... its a very cheap design (not even for the purpose that its in place for) that commonly causes this. This relay is mounted under the dash, just to the right of where the radio would be, at the bottom of the dash.

I wanted to go the cheap route too...but my contactors were so badly fried,it was a better option to replace than repair.too bad i didn't take the time for a few pictures....
comparing the effort/cost verses risk of another stuck contactor,it was a no brainer to replace.45$ and a little of my time seemed cheap enough to me.

Yeah, you can only repair solenoids if they aren't burned up really really bad. In emergency, I've been known to file the contacts down to smooth them out for a few more starts... But that was a pretty sticky situation.

Keep in mind, on CUCV trucks, there is an extra relay in the system... its a very cheap design (not even for the purpose that its in place for) that commonly causes this. This relay is mounted under the dash, just to the right of where the radio would be, at the bottom of the dash.


I didn't know about that relay. What does it do?

Basic theory, is to convert the 12v signal from the key, to 24v for the starter solenoid.

I see... Thanks! :)