YACT: Truck won't start and I just got it out of the shop a couple of weeks ago

[Arkitech]

When I try to start my truck I hear what sounds like a click but nothing else happens. The lights and radio seem to work but the ignition does'nt turn over. Anyone know what this means? BTW its a 99 Chevy Tahoe.


What makes this so frustrating is that I just got the truck out of the shop about 2-3 weeks ago (Aamco) I had a tuneup done and my trans flushed. 3 weeks before that I had to get my fuel filter and pump replaced. This is driving me nuts. It does'nt help that I always feel like these auto places are ripping me off and sabotaging my vehicle.

 

[laurenlex]

You are a victim of the infamous GM battery side post problem. I had a similar problem with my Suburban. Read the thread from this RV forum, and do as BenK says.

Before I did this fix, this battery post problem ruined a starter, alternator, and something else expensive that I can't remember. Now that I fixed it, no more problems.

My homemade fix was to use a positive battery post that was made so you could hook up a big ass amplifier directly to the battery. It worked.


RV forum thread on this battery problem

Do this and I think a lot of electrical problems will be solved.

edited because I can't spell.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: laurenlex
You are a victim of the infamous GM battery side post problem. I had a similar problem with my Suburban. Read the thread from this RV forum, and do as BenK says.

Before I did this fix, this battery post problem ruined a starter, alternator, and something else expensive that I can't remember. Now that I fixed it, no more problems.

My homemade fix was to use a positive battery post that was made so you could hook up a big ass amplifier directly to the battery. It worked.


RV forum thread on this battery problem

Do this and I think a lot of electrical problems will be solved.

edited because I can't spell.

I'm going to kook into that tomorrow after work, thanks for the tip. I never noticed any electrical problems before but that could be the issue right now.

 

[Ornery]

I never did like that side terminal BS. I can see saving space under the hood of a cramped FWD econobox, but no reason to have that at all in a truck!

If jumping it starts it, that would eliminat the starter as the culprit. If there are top terminals on the battery, try jumping from the top to the sides. That should be interesting...

 

[phreaqe]

i had a similar problem in my jeep. it had power to everything except the start would not rurn over. it was a problem with the switch that detects if it is in park or if it is in gear. might want to check that out as well.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: phreaqe
i had a similar problem in my jeep. it had power to everything except the start would not rurn over. it was a problem with the switch that detects if it is in park or if it is in gear. might want to check that out as well.

Nope, the starter is getting some power. The "clicking" is the solenoid. If the switch were dead, there wouldn't even be a click.

ZV

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: laurenlex
You are a victim of the infamous GM battery side post problem. I had a similar problem with my Suburban. Read the thread from this RV forum, and do as BenK says.

Before I did this fix, this battery post problem ruined a starter, alternator, and something else expensive that I can't remember. Now that I fixed it, no more problems.

My homemade fix was to use a positive battery post that was made so you could hook up a big ass amplifier directly to the battery. It worked.


RV forum thread on this battery problem

Do this and I think a lot of electrical problems will be solved.

edited because I can't spell.

Thanks for the advice, your diagnosis was dead on. The positive battery post was corroded to hell, I finally went to Pep Boys yesterday and picked up a new one.

However I can't get the old one off, I know absolutely nothing about auto mechanics. I managed to take out the old battery and replaced it with a new one. I reconnected the negative terminal to the battery but I could'nt get the damn post out of the wire to replace it. Is there a trick to getting those things off? I'm trying to avoid tearing up the wire if possible.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Soak the corrosion in a solution of baking soda and water.

Or just take the easy way out and replace the cable.

 

[IGBT]

..wd40 and a little tapping will loosen it up..put a thin film of greese on the lugs/terminals after you clean em up. That will stop the corrosion in the first place.