'98 silverado intermittent starting issue

Hi folks,

I have a 1998 Chevy Silverado with the 5.7. In the last couple of days, it has been giving me a strange problem. After a an easy start and about a 2 hour drive, I pulled into a parking lot to get a soda, and when I went to re-start, I got just a clicking sound, as if the battery was dead.

Thinking it was a battery issue, I jumped it with the other truck we were traveling with, and it started fine. This happened another couple of times over the weekend, but hasn't happened since yesterday afternoon. Today it's been fine. Each time, jumping it from the other truck worked flawlessly.

I have read a couple of other threads in this forum which suggested it could be the starter, but why would jumping it allow it to start immediately?

A couple of times it would turn over slowly about once and then resort to the clicking. The battery gauge in the dash shows about 12 volts before starting and between 12 and 14 while running.

I'm still thinking it's a battery issue, but if anyone has any input, let me know!

Thanks,

JC

Reply to
JC
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The first thing I would do is check the negative cable ground on your truck. It could be that by starting with a jumper cable your vehicle was grounded through the negative cable of the jumper. Clean both cable clamps as they attach to your battery. Tighten and/or clean the ground cable as it attaches to the frame of your vehicle. If there is rust, sand the area until you see bright metal. If the cable looks corroded or frayed, replace it. I had a battery develop an internal short once. There was an obvious gurgling noise which was really scary. I covered the battery with a heavy canvas and wore goggles as I carefully took out the old battery. I let it set a long time far from the area I was working before I carried it in for an exchanged; I was afraid it would explode. I make this comment because, after driving your vehicle for 2 hours and then it suddenly loses its charge, you should notice something wrong with your battery (if there was a rapid discharge it would get hot). Be careful, hot sulfuric acid in your face may be the last thing you will ever see!

Reply to
DM

Sounds like dirty battery cables..............

Reply to
Scott M

Ok...here's a followup...

Since Monday it was running fine. Just a moment ago I went to move it and it wouldn't start. Now, I don't know much about AC Delco's little green light on the battery, but it was green before, and now it's not. The battery gauge in the car is measuring under 10 volts, and the measurement at the battery is the same. I'm starting to think it's the battery flaking out. It's just not able to deliver the current needed to start the truck intermittantly. Otherwise, if it was dirty battery cables, it wouldn't start with a jump.

And the bad ground theory was a good one, except for the fact that I attached the negative jumper clamp in the truck that I jumped to the engine block itself, not to the battery. Wouldn't this mean that the negative circuit from the battery to the engine/chassis was complete, or good, since the truck started with no problems when jumped?

Any ideas or further comments? I appreciate everyone's input!

JC

Reply to
JC

That little light gone means that one cell in the battery is low on charge. (if you see the light then it means JUST that one cell is charged). Clean the cables, put a charger on it, then, have a battery place check the battery and charging system. If you dont have a charger, jump it, drive it down there and have them do it.

Reply to
Scott M

Thanks for the reply!

Actually, I can pretty much tell you that the entire battery was low on charge. Under 10 volts, according to the meter. I bought a $40 replacement and all is good. The battery cables were totally clean and free of corrosion, etc.

So far so good.

Thanks!

JC

Reply to
JC

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