Intermittent No Start- Update

Beer Belly · February 20, 2019

A little background, 2015 Sierra, 40k on the clock, just bought off my lease and had truck Certified to gain 1 year bumper to bumper and additional year on Drivetrain.....I love this truck. During a cold night a few days ago, I turn the key and get a one second crank, then nothing, tried again, same thing....on the fifth try, she fired right up. Dealer sez battery needs to be replaced soon, shows weak, so they charge it and hand me the keys. 5 days go by without a problem....then it happens again, identical issue, and on fifth try, fires right up. Although I can understand the battery may be near the end of it's life, I'm used to hearing the "click, click, click" sign of a bad battery, this sounds to me like there might be a secondary issue.....bad starter with a high draw ?.....bad connection ?.....or am I overthinking this?. Anybody experience this ?.....of course, Battery is not covered.

Edited March 5, 2019 by Beer Belly

2017Darkness · February 20, 2019

Battery....It's got a bad cell. We see it all the time, a customer will hop in and drive to the store and it won't re-fire. Sometimes that cell will have a charge, sometimes it won't.

Beer Belly · February 21, 2019

23 hours ago, 2017Darkness said:

Battery....It's got a bad cell. We see it all the time, a customer will hop in and drive to the store and it won't re-fire. Sometimes that cell will have a charge, sometimes it won't.

So, it would be a hit and miss like I'm experiencing ?....after the fifth consecutive turn of the key, she fires right up ?

Bash74 · February 21, 2019

I would just change the battery out since it is going bad. If that doesn't fix the problem then at least you know it isnt the battery, but either way the battery needs to be replaced.

Sierra Dan · February 21, 2019

OEM batteries can last as little as a year and as much as 6 years.

My '14 sierra is still on the original battery.

My dad retired from Delco Remy. The plant he worked at produced Delco batteries for GM.

I would trust what the dealer relayed to you. If it was something more serious i'm sure they would have looked into it.

Plus the fact that your intermittent problems are occurring during cold weather which places extra stress on batteries.

Todays trucks are packed with electronics, computers, sensors etc.

diyer2 · February 21, 2019

Put a battery in it.

Easy place to start to find your problem.

Beer Belly · February 22, 2019

Thanks for the replies. Replacing the Battery next weekend (unless it totally goes first), just as everyone stated, it needs to be done anyhow, and if the problem rears it's ugly head again, I eliminated one possible cause.

Sierra Dan · February 22, 2019

1 hour ago, Beer Belly said:

Thanks for the replies. Replacing the Battery next weekend (unless it totally goes first), just as everyone stated, it needs to be done anyhow, and if the problem rears it's ugly head again, I eliminated one possible cause.

Let us know how it turned out Rick

Beer Belly · March 2, 2019

I brought the truck to the dealer to have the Battery replaced ($167), as they diagnosed it as "on it's way" and why I have an intermittent no start on first turn of the key. I ran a few errands without any restart issues and was feeling confident. I went to pick up the Wife from work, and.........nothing.......tried again.....nothing, called the service writer and left a message that the truck is dead in the driveway. Tried to start again, and on the fifth attempt, fired right up. Service writer said to bring it in, but I was already on the road going to work. I will be dropping it off this morning, unless they give away my Loaner. He said " I guess it wasn't the Battery and you have a secondary issue"......those were my exact words when I first brought it in.......I'm guessing they won't find anything and hand me back the keys......time will tell.

Beer Belly · March 3, 2019

Dropped the truck off and got a 2019 Silverado loaner (like my truck better.....when it starts). I was talking to the service writer and mentioned "there's gotta be a bad connection somewhere, or maybe bad Starter, maybe do a Starter draw test ?"....he said "Did you ever think it could be a bad Alternator ?".....I looked at him with a puzzled look......"How would a bad Alternator cause an intermittent no start ?".....no answer, but his attitude got a little nasty after that exchange. They will have the truck till Monday at the earliest.

Beer Belly · March 5, 2019

So, finally after having my truck for days, they are replacing the Starter, which I told them from the get go they should look at. They say it has a "Flat Spot"......I'm betting this will resolve the issue. Have been driving a 2019 Silverado.....all I can say is, I miss my 2015 Sierra.

kawman · August 22, 2024

2015 crew cab 4X4 62.000 miles same issue so far replaced Battery.Starter.Alt just brought it back from shop Aug,20,2024 stopped to get gas dead no start turned key on/off 5 times fired up shop says no codes on computer they are leaning toward ignition switch or fault in computer! Time for a For Sale sign!

dieselade · August 26, 2024

there aint no click clicks anymore.

mikeyk101 · August 26, 2024

On 8/22/2024 at 6:58 AM, kawman said:

2015 crew cab 4X4 62.000 miles same issue so far replaced Battery.Starter.Alt just brought it back from shop Aug,20,2024 stopped to get gas dead no start turned key on/off 5 times fired up shop says no codes on computer they are leaning toward ignition switch or fault in computer! Time for a For Sale sign!

By any chance do you use a Range AFM device?

Ryan falcon · September 25, 2024

Having similar issues with my 2016 gmc Denali xl. Working fine, traveled about 1.5 hours away and stayed off for about 4 hours. Get back in and push to start doesn’t start. Just clicks one click. Mechanic stated a wire connecting to starter was disconnected because connector piece broke off. Spliced the wire and connected it really good to starter. Still doesn’t start and is now chattering. Battery and alternator tested fine. Changed the starter. Still didnt work. I was able to wiggle the ignition relay and get it to hesitate to jump. Changed out the relay. Still didn’t work. Changed out the fuse box. Began to work and drove it to my job. Got off my job and tried to start it and it wouldn’t work. Took a few more tries and it started. Drove it straight to mechanic. Stopped it at the mechanic and attempted to restart it…one click and didn’t restart. He checked all wires, fuse harness, and all grounds..everything looked fine. He noticed a wire on the positive battery loose..tightened it. It started right up. He ran it on and off for two days and drove it around with no problems. I pick it up from mechanic shop and drive it home. Turn it off in my driveway and say let my try and restart it just to see……..DOESN’T start! One click. Try a few more times and it eventually starts. Try turning it off and on multiple times it starts every time. I just don’t know and don’t want to get stranded somewhere. Maybe the starter is a bad starter. Maybe I need to change the wire from the positive part of the battery.