NEED HELP SOS

Allie Roberts · November 8, 2020

So I bought a 2004 Silverado 1500 (5.3L) back in August and have had troubles with it starting since the week I bought it. Sometimes it will start up perfectly, and sometimes I’ll go out to it and it will be completely dead. I don’t get it. It’s not a bad battery, this is my 2nd new battery I’ve had in it since August. It’s had 2 parasitic draw tests, to which nothing was found both times. This is very frustrating, because when I bring it into the dealership to get service done it starts for them every time so they don’t believe me! They checked over all ground wires too. Other than the starting issue, the truck runs perfect. And yes, everything is getting shut off when I turn the key off. I even make sure the radio & AC are off, and obviously my headlights. I do have a dash light on for passenger air bag, could that be something connected to all this? I’m about ready to give up and sell it. When it does start, it starts up very strong and right away. When it’s dead, you can tell the second you open the door because the door chime won’t be going off (is that even normal?) There is a red battery light that comes on the dash when I shut the truck off.

riverbanks · November 9, 2020

When it's dead,try testing battery,see what it's voltage is at,sounds like a bad battery cable?

stevejones · November 9, 2020

No internet diagnosis will be fruitful - you need to get the truck to an electrical specialist. Take it to Ivan in PA.

SILVER SLED · November 9, 2020

How do you get it started when it won’t start immediately? Jump it, wait and try later.....? Under hood fuse blocks are known for getting corroded and causing intermittent issues.

Edited November 9, 2020 by SILVER SLED

Allie Roberts · November 9, 2020

29 minutes ago, SILVER SLED said:

How do you get it started when it won’t start immediately? Jump it, wait and try later.....? Under hood fuse blocks are known for getting corroded and causing intermittent issues.

It always needs to be jumped.

Allie Roberts · November 9, 2020

39 minutes ago, stevejones said:

No internet diagnosis will be fruitful - you need to get the truck to an electrical specialist. Take it to Ivan in PA.

Been at a Chevrolet Dealership for a total of 3 weeks with their technicians. They couldn’t find a thing.

riverbanks · November 9, 2020

Battery light and air bag light are on after key removal?

Ian Mills · November 10, 2020

I had this exact same issue in the past. I even got to the point where I would carry my toolbox in the backseat so I could try to do diagnostics when it happened. Mine ended up being corrosion and breakage inside the cable that runs between the positive terminal of the battery and the positive side of the alternator. It was causing an intermittent loss of connection but one little bump and it would reconnect.

You can test for this by measuring for a difference in voltage on the positive side of the battery and the hot side of the alternator next time the problem pops up.

Edited November 10, 2020 by Ian Mills

sefiroxx · November 10, 2020

I too had problems with an 04 starter. Had gone thru lots of diagnostics and parts. Turned out to be the starter.

You can rule out the starter wire harness by jumping the starter at the starter. Piece of thick wire 3-4 inches long, exposed at both ends. From underneath or thru the passenger front wheel well, jump the large wire to the smaller solenoid wire.

If it cranks, then you have problems with ignition switch, relays, security, NSS

If not, then main wire, battery, or starter itself.

Ian Mills · November 10, 2020

13 hours ago, sefiroxx said:

Turned out to be the starter.

I don't think it's the starter in this case because OP said that the door chime doesn't go off when the other symptoms occur. That makes me think it's a lack of power making it from the battery to the truck for some reason