Need Help! Battery Problems

[kendall_smith]

I recently had to install a new battery in my 97 GMC 1500 since the old one finally gave up. On Sunday I had to use my wife’s car to jump start the truck so I could go to the auto parts store to get a new battery. I bought the new battery and went out into the parking lot to put it in and the first time I hit the key, the truck acted like it didn’t even have a battery in it- no dash lights came on, the fuel pump didn’t start, nothing. It did start making a ticking sound coming from under the dash though. I went inside to tell one of the employees that I think I got a bad battery and he came outside to take a look. He then proceeded to tighten the battery bolts by turning on them really hard (harder than I was comfortable tightening them). After he did that, the truck started right up and I assumed that I had just not gotten the battery bolts tight.

 

Later on that night, when I stopped for gas coming home from out of town the truck didn’t want to start at the gas station. It started for just a second and then died- twice. Finally, on the third try it started up and ran rough for a second, then it smoothed out and ran fine all the way home (about 50 miles).

 

When I went out to the truck Monday morning to go to work, it did the rough starting again. When it finally did start running it kept trying to die on me and all the lights on the dash started flashing on and off. I parked the truck right then and called the shop. When I went to start the truck to go to the shop that night it acted like the battery wasn’t hooked up again- no lights, nothing- just the ticking sound from the dash. I turned the key off and waited a second, then tried it again. It fired right up and I drove all the way to the shop with no problems.

 

The shop said that they hooked it up to the computer and didn’t find any error codes and it seemed to fire up for them every time they turned the key. I picked the truck up and it seemed to have worked itself out- it was starting and running fine, until this morning. This morning I started the truck just fine, but as soon as I put it in drive, it started bucking and flashing dash lights and trying to die. When I got to the stop light by my apartment, it did die. It fired right back up and seemed to run fine all the way to work. When I got to work, I turned it off and waited a second, then started it again- it started fine and idled perfectly.

 

Any ideas what it may be? It has me concerned that it is going to strand me somewhere when it is least convenient.

[DofD]

Sounds like you need to clean the battery terminals and connectors as they aren't making a good connection. As the truck warms up the terminals expand a little making a better connection resulting in why it will run okay once it gets started.

[KillerKnife]

I would start simple look at the terminals and clean off any corrosion.

[Draenor]

As said above, check cables for corrosion, especially the grounds.... and not just at the battery. Check the starter and engine grounds too.

[kendall_smith]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am taking your advice and starting simple. I cleaned the terminals on the battery this afternoon and they needed it pretty badly. I'm hoping that fixes the problem. I guess I'll find out tomorrow morning when I leave for work since it seems that is when the truck has been throwing its worst "fits". If it does it tomorrow, I will take Draenor's advice and dig into all of the other grounds.

[maxwell1]

I recently had to install a new battery in my 97 GMC 1500 since the old one finally gave up. On Sunday I had to use my wife's car to jump start the truck so I could go to the auto parts store to get a new battery. I bought the new battery and went out into the parking lot to put it in and the first time I hit the key, the truck acted like it didn't even have a battery in it- no dash lights came on, the fuel pump didn't start, nothing. It did start making a ticking sound coming from under the dash though. I went inside to tell one of the employees that I think I got a bad battery and he came outside to take a look. He then proceeded to tighten the battery bolts by turning on them really hard (harder than I was comfortable tightening them). After he did that, the truck started right up and I assumed that I had just not gotten the battery bolts tight.

 

Later on that night, when I stopped for gas coming home from out of town the truck didn't want to start at the gas station. It started for just a second and then died- twice. Finally, on the third try it started up and ran rough for a second, then it smoothed out and ran fine all the way home (about 50 miles).

 

When I went out to the truck Monday morning to go to work, it did the rough starting again. When it finally did start running it kept trying to die on me and all the lights on the dash started flashing on and off. I parked the truck right then and called the shop. When I went to start the truck to go to the shop that night it acted like the battery wasn't hooked up again- no lights, nothing- just the ticking sound from the dash. I turned the key off and waited a second, then tried it again. It fired right up and I drove all the way to the shop with no problems.

 

The shop said that they hooked it up to the computer and didn't find any error codes and it seemed to fire up for them every time they turned the key. I picked the truck up and it seemed to have worked itself out- it was starting and running fine, until this morning. This morning I started the truck just fine, but as soon as I put it in drive, it started bucking and flashing dash lights and trying to die. When I got to the stop light by my apartment, it did die. It fired right back up and seemed to run fine all the way to work. When I got to work, I turned it off and waited a second, then started it again- it started fine and idled perfectly.

 

Any ideas what it may be? It has me concerned that it is going to strand me somewhere when it is least convenient.

_________________________________________

I was having some battery problems with my 2000 model chevy truck.

 

checked all battery cable connections (they looked good) however the positive connection to the battery was full of corrosion.

 

I hope this is all your problem, also could be a grounding problem. motor to frame of truck

 

all i know to do at this time is just take wires off and check each wire end connection. problem does sound like a bad connection.

 

if it does this again,

move only one wire connection at time then try to start truck, if you move a wire connection and it starts fine then thats the one I would replace first.

 

Good luck,

[GARB55]

Baking Soda (Bicarbonate of Soda) can be used to neutralize battery acid corrosion on cars, mowers, etc. , because it is a mild alkali. Be sure to disconnect the battery terminals before cleaning. Make a paste of 3 parts Baking Soda to 1 part water, apply with a damp cloth to scrub corrosion from the battery terminal. After cleaning and re-connecting the terminals, wipe them with petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion. Please be careful when working around a battery--they contain a strong acid.

[Draenor]

After cleaning and re-connecting the terminals, wipe them with petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion.

Or K-Y jelly, astro-glide...what ever you have in the bedroom drawer.....Your truck will love it.....

 

 

[dead]

check the Ignition Switch

[08 Yukon]

Buy the more expensive batteries, like Optima or Oddessy, that don't create corrosion. I plan on buying the Oddessy when I need a new battery. It is the best price at Sears, I think I remember reading it is their platinum battery-like $199.00

[kendall_smith]

I think cleaning the terminals did the trick. This morning was the coldest day we've had so far and the truck fired right up and didn't miss a beat, which is a good sign since it seemed that colder temps made the problem worse. Thanks again for all the suggestions.

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

The AC/Delco batteries from the late 90s thru the early 2000s had very weak terminal posts and would fail quite easily, pukeing acid all over the place, and on the cable. Years ago on this forum it was the topic of constant conversation. It ended up happening on my old 99 Silverado.