1999 Chevy Tahoe Lights, radio, gauges all on, will not cra

DRASMUSSEN84057

MEMBER
1999 CHEVROLET TAHOE
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
109,000 MILES

Periodically, the car will not crank. This happens every 6-8 months or so and is usually resolved by cleaning the battery terminals. I did this yesterday, cleaned the terminals (side post) and bolts etx with battery terminal cleaner and a wire brush. This did the trick initially, but a few hours later it would not crank. Noting that there was a considerable amount of corrosion, I replaced the cable from the positive to the main fuse block (15 inch cable) and I replaced another cable end. Tightend everything down and it started right up. Good, right? Wrong. After getting the car home, the next attemtp to start resulted in lights-on no-start. I took the battery to autozone and it tested as nearly end-of-life, so replaced that thinking I jsut wasn't getting enough amps to crank. Tried a jump but not joy.

Bottom line: the lights and accesories all light up fine. Turning the ignition results is a quiet click from under the hood. There is no solenoid pop or cranking.

Any ideas where to go next?

1 Reply

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

Either the negative cable should be check for voltage drop, or replaced, or the starter itself is No good! Remove the negative cable from the battery terminal, then remove the cable and wires at the starter and clean them up. You can try using a jumper cable to the start from the + battery terminal with the key in the on position, if it cranks and runs, corrosion in the cables is allowing too much resistance in the wiring. A one ohm voltage drop from the battery to the starter will prevent it from starting.