2005 Chevy Tahoe - Starting is intermittent; radio will reset

Tiny
JPESNELL
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE
  • 125,000 MILES
2005 Chevy Tahoe - Starting is intermittent; radio will reset when trying to start vehicle. Starting is getting worse, symptoms - turn key nothing, turn key power to dash then when starting you hear click like a dead battery. Then next try - vehicle starts. Starter Solenoid?
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 AT 5:29 PM

20 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Check to make sure the battery terminals are clean and tight. It sounds like a loose connection.
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Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 AT 5:54 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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  • 20,761 POSTS
You have a loss of power supply from somewhere. Test the battery itself first and then look at all the connections.
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-1
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 AT 5:55 PM
Tiny
JPESNELL
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Battery is fairly new; connections are good. Just went out to try again - turn key to accessory. Interior powers up. Turn key further to start, everything goes dead. Turn key back to accessory and wait 10-20 seconds power returns to interior. Try again, sounds like dead battery or solenoid not engaging. Finally started and started 15 time in a row (until I stopped trying).
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Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 AT 6:08 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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Listen to me. You have a loss of power supply somewhere.
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Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 AT 6:19 PM
Tiny
CADIEMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,544 POSTS
This sounds like a bad starter. Next time it wont start try tapping on the starter with a hammer and see if it starts. The armature in the starter is bad and when it stops on the bad spot thats when it wont start.
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Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 AT 6:24 PM
Tiny
JPESNELL
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  • 8 POSTS
Fair enough. I'll reinspect. Battery, Alternator, starter. Anywhere else you might suggest? Thanks
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Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 AT 6:25 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
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Cadieman. What would a starter have to do with knocking the radio out?
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Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 AT 6:28 PM
Tiny
JPESNELL
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  • 8 POSTS
Could the power drain at the starter cause the radio reset?
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Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 AT 8:33 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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No, there is a bad connection somewhere.
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Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 AT 8:45 PM
Tiny
CADIEMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,544 POSTS
Does the radio rest to 1200 and you lose the preset channels?
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+1
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 AT 8:56 PM
Tiny
JPESNELL
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
It does reset to 12:00 - It doesn't lose Satellite radio presets. Don't listen to FM/AM radio so I didn't check that (though I would assume not since satellite is good)
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Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 AT 9:11 PM
Tiny
JPESNELL
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Connections are all tight at battery, engine ground, alternator, starter. All cables look good. I did remove and inspect the battery connections. No corrosion. I'll pay attention but now that I think about it, it only seems to happen after the vehicle sits and cools down. Either overnight or while sitting several hours.
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 AT 2:08 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
The battery isn't the only place that you can lose power supply. You have various power distribution centers and fusible links that can be problem areas too.
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 AT 2:13 AM
Tiny
CADIEMAN
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  • 3,544 POSTS
The radio is resetting because your losing power to the radio. The clock runs on constant power scorce when you turn the key the radio works off a ingnition power scorce. So two fuses control the radio and clock. Check all the fuses one has to be blown. Ty for using 2carpros
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 AT 2:16 AM
Tiny
JPESNELL
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  • 8 POSTS
The Clock doesn't reset every time.
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 AT 12:39 PM
Tiny
CADIEMAN
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If its one click and you tap test the starter and it starts you need to replace the starter.
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 AT 4:44 PM
Tiny
JPESNELL
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Battery connections felt tight. After removing and replacing them, the problem has gone away. Appears to have been a connection issue. If it makes it through the weekend I'll feel it is resolved. Thanks for the help.
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Thursday, September 29th, 2011 AT 6:36 PM
Tiny
CADIEMAN
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Gl thanks for using 2carpros
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Thursday, September 29th, 2011 AT 6:56 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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The first 2 people to post both said that. At least you found it eventually.
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Thursday, September 29th, 2011 AT 8:03 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hay,

Glad you found it. What you originally described pointed me directly to that type of problem.

Let us know if you have questions in the future.
Joe
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Thursday, September 29th, 2011 AT 10:20 PM

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