I have a 91 4.3 4x4 and it makes the clicking noise that a dead battery makes while it is turning over to start it. Sometimes after driving for a while and cutting it off, if I start it while it's still warm it will turn over once or twice then hesitate for a second then turn over again and hesitate again and do that a few times before it will actually start. When it does that a cloud of smoke comes out from somewhere I think underneath. Not positive about where, could be the tailpipe. I know my battery is good and is not the culprit and I know it has good clean connection. I haven't really looked into the cause or location of the clicking noise too much. I was just seeing if anyone else has had this issue or an idea of what it could be. My first thought would be the starter solenoid but I've never had one click while it still turns over just fine when its cold.

 

Oh and the smoke is an oil smoke not a coolant smoke. I can tell by the smell.

 

For the clicking I'd say solenoid as well. You said battery connections are good, but have you inspected the ground connections?

I beefed up my grounds, and I did notice an improvement in the electrical system.

The smoke sounds like the typical chevy valve stem seals. My 1500 did that every start up, but still ran great.

 

I haven't really done much figure out the clicking because it does still start and run fine. I ran into a more serious problem this weekend. I drove it about 3 miles down the road and back and noticed that the front brakes were smoking. So the next day i went and bought new wheel cylinders for the back cause i figured the old ones were bad. I started with the rear passenger side and when i took the drum off there was NOTHING!!! The previous owner must have gutted it and cut the brake line. So now i have to figure out why the rear brakes are not getting fluid and find a donor vehicle to get all the hardware and brake line off of.

 

Wow! that's crazy. If you get a flaring tool, you could just remake all the hard lines you need. I did that on the C1500 I had, because the line to the rear rusted out.



In fact should just go new on most of it, since these things are getting up there in age.