03 Envoy 5.3 didn't start

[BigDad]

Hi All, I am new to the forum and to my o3 Envoy, and now for the fun stuff, i went home for lunch this afternoon as usual, came out at 12:45 as usual,put the key ini the ignition turned it to start and ...nothing...nadda...zip...all electrics just up and died as long as i held the key in the start position, when i released it to the run position all was fine, like nothing happened...turned to start again and nothing, nadda...etc etc...for approximately 14 tries and several cuss words, checked all fuses and relays, read through the forum (which I found just today) and saw of others that had the same thing happen but did not post an actual resolve.
Funny thing is when i went back out to the truck to start looking things over, i thought "what the heck" put the key in and vavoom, she started right up.
Time span between attemps was maybe 15 minutes. I'm thinking maybe a relay was hot and needed to cool down to make contact...any takers on this one...any and all help is appreciated.
Awesome forum by the way, I think i am going to like it here.
BigDad:)

[Aerostud1026]

Im wondering if it's something to do with the starter maybe the starter is going?....I remember a similar problem on my 90 Buick......turned out the starter was on it's way out...

Btw how did you search the forum? I thought you needed at least 10 posts to do that

[Nukedog]

Sounds like a relay...

[GusMan]

The same thing happened to me.

The first time it happened, it was the ignition switch.
The second time, (at least 1.5 years later) they replaced the switch again and 24 hrs after that, it did it again.

Finally, they said that they had to replace the starter. Been good since then.

All I have to say is "Thank you extended warranty!"

(Not sure why this is not showing up on my profile... but it was on my 03 TB-LT-EXT-V8.)

Btw how did you search the forum? I thought you needed at least 10 posts to do that
Dont know if they changed the rules recently, but I have been able to search all along...

[Envoy Fan]

Or ignition switch going bad.

[kadillackelley]

Ignition switches are common problems in GM land, seized/frozen starters are also problems on the LS style V8 engines.

[Viper12873]

My '03 Envoy XL did the same thing... but it didn't start back up... ended up calling the dealership for a tow/warranty and they replaced the starter.

[ghoster]

Mine did this too, once upon a time. After searching around a bit, I found that the positive post on the battery was stripped. It seemed tight when I tried it by hand, but put a wrench on it and you could tell it was obviously stripped. I got it started and took it to the dealership (it was less than a year old at the time). They slapped a new battery in, and the problem went away.:cool:

[speedog]

Our 2003 Trailblazer LT Ext started exhibiting the no start/no crank problem several days ago (all other things work A-OK) and then last night wouldn't start at all. Our TB also wouldn't start this morning until the tow truck arrived upon which our TB started like normal. Didn't turn it off, drove the TB down to the dealership and the service manager turned it off and it wouldn't start up for him either.

Of note, I verified the continuity of every fuse, swapped relays where possible, removed and checked the brake switch, removed both battery connections and checked them and none of this resolved the starting problem. Never the less, it's at the dealer with the problem and I'll update all the problem is found

[speedog]

Back from dealer - dealer replaced the ignition control module and all appears to be okay now. No cost to us even though we bought this used just a week ago as the dealer honuoured their handshake deal and their 150 point inspection. They even give us a loaner car for the day - good service.

BTW, our TB is 3.5 years old (lease back) with just 56,000 kilometers (34,720 miles) on the odometer.

[TPfromKamloops]

06 Envoy Denali 35Kms...had the same problem...noticed "XM Error" message on satellite radio...a few days later car was completely dead and had to call road assistance for a boost...dealer was clueless...car failed again after parking outside store...dealership replaced ignition switch....problem seems to have been resolved.

[MountainTblazer]

This ignition switch problem is very well documented in this forum - as I found out from experience recently having my TB dragged out a$$ backwards out of my garage and towed on a flatbed to the dealer.

Whatever GM did with these ignition switches in the TB - it was DEAD wrong.

[JamesDub]

I had the fun experience of getting a tow to the dealer today . Truck has power but you turn the key and the dash lights go out and it dosen't even try to turn over . The battery is less than a month old , checked thru all fuses and wires then called for a flatbed .
$85 for the dealer to just diagnose the problem , uuggghhhh :worried: .
We'll see what they say tomorrow as to the cause and how much $$ there gonna take from me .

James

[ghoster]

I had the fun experience of getting a tow to the dealer today . Truck has power but you turn the key and the dash lights go out and it dosen't even try to turn over . The battery is less than a month old , checked thru all fuses and wires then called for a flatbed .
$85 for the dealer to just diagnose the problem , uuggghhhh :worried: .
We'll see what they say tomorrow as to the cause and how much $$ there gonna take from me .

James

betcha its a stripped battery connection. Pep Boys did it to mine. Tightened the positive terminal just a hair to much and it stripped. Rather than tell me, the snugged it up and let me go. 2 days later, I had the same symptoms you have. They had to give me a new battery, which I promptly made them refund. I went down to Auto Zone and bought a new one. Never had a problem since.:cool:

[JamesDub]

betcha its a stripped battery connection. Pep Boys did it to mine. :

Mines not a battery issue , I put my battery myself in and it was done right . The battery shows regular voltage on the dash gauge . Most likely mine is going to be a bad starter or ignition switch , hopefully its the ignition switch cause its way cheaper .

James

[MountainTblazer]

My money on both of your trucks is the ignition switch - seems to be the "weak link" in the TB electrical system. The really fun thing is that bad ignition switches show themselves in all sort of ways - many different types of symptoms. Yuck.

[jimmyjam]

I had the fun experience of getting a tow to the dealer today.Aren't you supposed to be getting your tires mounted today? :mad:

sorry just read the other thread... my condolences man

[JamesDub]

Aren't you supposed to be getting your tires mounted today? :mad:
sorry just read the other thread... my condolences man

Yeah now the tires are gonna be mounted Friday morning .
The service writer from the dealer just called and was like the mechanic is having a tough time figuring this out blah blah blah . This guy is probably the dumbest service writer I've ever dealt with , yesterday I fealt unsure of even leaving my TB with him . I let him know alot of TB owners have had there ignition switches go bad and to start there . If my arm wasn't cripple right now I'd go over there and fix it myself . Guess thats what I get for living in a little po-dunk town :worried: .

James

[JamesDub]

Well got my TB back from the dealer today .... I got screwed on the price to fix it though . The idiot service writer called this morning and asked the series of events that led up to the non start issue again as the service tech "was having a hard time diagnosing the problem" . I told him I was 99% sure that it was a bad ignition switch and to concentrate on that first . He called back later to say yup the switch was bad , good thing I'm around to do the figuring out for them .

So they finally finish it at 5:20 and give me a bill for $398 :eek::mad: . I had spent some time today searching old posts of guys that went thru the dealer for the same fix and what they all payed and printed out about 10 to bring with me .
I showed them the prices others have payed and you shoulda heard all the lame reasons why mine cost more ... "oh those are prices from dealers in other states" WTF and another guy "don't forget CA emissions add cost to it " WTF its a little switch . You all payed between $40-$56 for the part , I was charged $95.92 :hissy: . You guys payed for about 1.5 hrs labor on average , I payed $255.00 (after adjustment) and I was the one to diagnose it , uuggghhh .

So after freaking out on them they took $50 labor off , I ended up paying $358.35 to have a little switch put in .

I informed them that in the future all my business will be going either 15 miles north or 20 miles to the south , I will never go to there service dept again .


Whatever ...tomorrow will be better , I get my 34s mounted . I invite all you to the OFF ROAD forum to see pics tomorrow afternoon :yes: .
James

[JamesDub]

Update
So I bicthed and moaned when they called from the dealer to follow up on my satisfaction of my recent service . I told them I was overcharged and wouldn't be coming back . They said they'd pass it on to the Service Manager .

Well he called today and I went over the situation with him .... and he later called me back to say that they will be cutting me a check for $85 to make it right . It will still be more ($273 total) than others on here payed but I am happy now :) . Just goes to show you gotta call them on there practices if you feel like you were taken advantage of :nono: .

[BigDad]

Had the no start symptoms in June (see my first post in this thread) then
took it in to the dealer in July, they could not find the problem (of course) so
I had them change the Ignition switch, I figured I had a 50/50 chance it was bad...well, it ran real nice till last week, symptoms appeared again, then yesterday she just would not go at all...had it towed back to service department and they just called saying it's definately the starter...go figure...
the good news is I will now have a new switch and new starter...woo hoo!
Thanks to all for your help and suggestions...
BigDad

[theloveshack26]

Just today I had my engine not start on me. I was going out to go shopping and the check engine light was on, but it started okay. As I pulled out of my driveway I felt that the engine had severely reduced power. I pulled over to the side of the road while still in my subdivision and called up onstar, they ran diagnostics and told me that there was a starter problem. The engine would either not start at all and dim the dashboard lights or start, run for a moment, then stop.

I'm not sure what's causing this, especially since sometimes the engine starts and runs smoothly, and sometimes it doesn't.


I had it towed to the dealer, if they tell me what's going on I'll post it here.