New Battery Cables time or what?!? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

TIMSPEED · 12-22-2003, 06:15 AM

OK, so I go out to start my truck tonight (I haven't started it in about a week) and I turn the key and I hear "click-click-click-click". Now, it done this to me last week when I was at the gas station..and what I did was just kept turning the key from off/on really fast, and it seemed to finally light up. But tonight it was a no go. So, I turned on the headlights (pretty dim) and tried to fire it, again "clicking" sound, along with the headlights basically going OUT.
I've RECENTLY replace the Starter, Battery, AND Alternator...so now it's time for the battery cables...right?

allthrtl · 12-22-2003, 06:38 AM

Well, it could be the cables or it could be one of the other things you mentioned....

Before throwing more parts at it, I would check a few things. If there are 12+ volts at the battery and it doesn't drop below 9.6v while a helper is cranking, then it's likely a poor connection. It's not un-heard-of to see a new battery drop a cell or to see the regulator or stator go out of a new altenator.

Jump start it...At the battery you should get 13-15v @ 2-3k rpm, more or less=alt problems.

The "click-click-click-click" is the solenoid clicking because there isn't enough juice to keep it engaged...(dim headlights)

Seen lots of electrical problems posted lately and it seems that very few folks actually own or use a volt/ohm meter. These things aren't that expensive and will save you lots of time hunting and it'll also save alot of money on parts that you won't be throwing around....Another good item to have is a good 12v test light. I actually carry a test light in my glove compartment.... Never leave home without it.....

Good Luck....

TIMSPEED · 12-22-2003, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by allthrtl
Seen lots of electrical problems posted lately and it seems that very few folks actually own or use a volt/ohm meter. These things aren't that expensive and will save you lots of time hunting and it'll also save alot of money on parts that you won't be throwing around....Another good item to have is a good 12v test light. I actually carry a test light in my glove compartment.... Never leave home without it.....

I carry both a Digital Multimeter and a test light in my glove box aswell.

TIMSPEED · 12-22-2003, 05:12 PM

ok, well, I charged my battery last night, and I went and it fired right up like nothin. I checked the battery terminals while the truck was running, and the battery showed it to be 13.8 at about 1500rpm, so I'm guessing maybe I just had a low battery

Grim Reaper · 12-22-2003, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TIMSPEED
ok, well, I charged my battery last night, and I went and it fired right up like nothin. I checked the battery terminals while the truck was running, and the battery showed it to be 13.8 at about 1500rpm, so I'm guessing maybe I just had a low battery

Does your meter have a Amp meter? Hook it up and see if it's drawing any juice. .05 ma (may want to double check that. Been a while since I have don that kind of problem finding) is about what the memory on the radio will draw. Double that if your running a high end alarm with a proxsimity (sp) sensor. Any more then that is excessive.

#1 area for problems with current draw is the Stereo. Pull the fuse to it and see if the draw drops if your seeing excessive. Make sure the amp is shutting down with the head unit if you run seperate amps.

#2 is cig plug.

**old Rusty C10** · 12-22-2003, 05:41 PM

check the battery with a tester to see how it does under load and if ya can ( i dont care if its maintenance free) the water levels you could have a battery goin bad

TIMSPEED · 12-22-2003, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Grim Reaper
#1 area for problems with current draw is the Stereo. Pull the fuse to it and see if the draw drops if your seeing excessive. Make sure the amp is shutting down with the head unit if you run seperate amps.
#2 is cig plug.

Of which I have NEITHER! So..I dunno..one night my horn was going off all night, and ever since then, I never actually CHARGED the battery, so..it's prolly been a long stemming problem since then.

Grim Reaper · 12-22-2003, 07:04 PM

What did you do about the horn?

was the problem fixed?

If you just unpluged the horns then that maybe the problem. There is a relay and it will put a draw on the battery even if the horns are unpluged if it is still stuck.

Most commom horn problem is Button in steering wheel. the contact pin to let the wheel to turn wears out and then it shorts.

toytruck · 12-22-2003, 11:01 PM

Grim- The contact pin is that the wire with the little spring on it? Duh (light comes on) Never mind. I didn't know that they wear out. Thanks.

TIMSPEED · 12-22-2003, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Grim Reaper
If you just unpluged the horns then that maybe the problem. There is a relay and it will put a draw on the battery even if the horns are unpluged if it is still stuck.

Ahhh HA! Where exactly is that relay at? I just unplugged the horns, so that's probably my problem! So, where do I unplug it so that it'll fix it? (For the time being, until I fix the contact ring)

toytruck · 12-22-2003, 11:19 PM

My guess is to pull the horn button and remove the contact pin (wire). Right???

TIMSPEED · 12-22-2003, 11:21 PM

Well..there was only ONE relay under my dash, down by the fuse panel...so I took it off, and everything still works, so I guess that was my horn relay...well, hopefully it won't drain my battery anymore...none of my other cars have horns, LOL.

BaggedC10 · 12-22-2003, 11:33 PM

I had the same problem w/ my truck, Tim. A faulty horn relay drained two of my batteries.

TIMSPEED · 12-22-2003, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BaggedC10
I had the same problem w/ my truck, Tim. A faulty horn relay drained two of my batteries.

Well, at least now it won't happen anymore, because I disconnected it entirely.

Mike76251 · 12-23-2003, 04:28 AM

Here's a old tip that I am gonna pass along in spite of that avatar of yours.....LOL
Unhook the + battery cable and rig a 12v light between it and the battery. If it lights up you have draw.
Pull fuses until it don't light anymore and you have found your draw.

**swervin ervin** · 12-23-2003, 07:19 AM

To make sure you have the horn relay, put the one you pulled back in and press the horn button. You should hear it clicking. Pull it back out and then try it. If no click, you have the right one.

The horn relay on my 85 is on a little panel up under the dash above the steering column.

I just want to say that you guys are amazing. The amount of help in this forum is nothing short of top notch. Great work everyone.

TIMSPEED · 12-23-2003, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by swervin ervin
To make sure you have the horn relay, put the one you pulled back in and press the horn button.

Well, I'm sure I have the right one..cuz otherwise, I don't have a horn relay

It was the only relay in there.

12-22-2003, 05:12 PM	#4
TIMSPEED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,321	ok, well, I charged my battery last night, and I went and it fired right up like nothin. I checked the battery terminals while the truck was running, and the battery showed it to be 13.8 at about 1500rpm, so I'm guessing maybe I just had a low battery __________________ I have a few cars... See Them Here

12-22-2003, 05:41 PM	#6
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,287	check the battery with a tester to see how it does under load and if ya can ( i dont care if its maintenance free) the water levels you could have a battery goin bad __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

12-22-2003, 07:04 PM	#8
Grim Reaper Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,704	What did you do about the horn? was the problem fixed? If you just unpluged the horns then that maybe the problem. There is a relay and it will put a draw on the battery even if the horns are unpluged if it is still stuck. Most commom horn problem is Button in steering wheel. the contact pin to let the wheel to turn wears out and then it shorts. __________________ Grim-Reaper 70 Pontiac LeMans Sport Convertible, worlds longest resto in progress Looking for 71-72 2wd Blazer or Jimmy Project

12-22-2003, 11:01 PM	#9
toytruck 5-7 dropped 87 CC Dually Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: bay city mi Posts: 326	Grim- The contact pin is that the wire with the little spring on it? Duh (light comes on) Never mind. I didn't know that they wear out. Thanks. __________________ I rather be in my 77 Sanger Picklefork Jet Hydro!

12-22-2003, 11:19 PM	#11
toytruck 5-7 dropped 87 CC Dually Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: bay city mi Posts: 326	My guess is to pull the horn button and remove the contact pin (wire). Right??? __________________ I rather be in my 77 Sanger Picklefork Jet Hydro!

12-22-2003, 06:15 AM	#1
TIMSPEED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,321	New Battery Cables time or what?!? OK, so I go out to start my truck tonight (I haven't started it in about a week) and I turn the key and I hear "click-click-click-click". Now, it done this to me last week when I was at the gas station..and what I did was just kept turning the key from off/on really fast, and it seemed to finally light up. But tonight it was a no go. So, I turned on the headlights (pretty dim) and tried to fire it, again "clicking" sound, along with the headlights basically going OUT. I've RECENTLY replace the Starter, Battery, AND Alternator...so now it's time for the battery cables...right? __________________ I have a few cars... See Them Here

12-22-2003, 06:38 AM	#2
allthrtl Available for Adoption Join Date: May 2003 Location: Lubbock Tx Posts: 177	Well, it could be the cables or it could be one of the other things you mentioned.... Before throwing more parts at it, I would check a few things. If there are 12+ volts at the battery and it doesn't drop below 9.6v while a helper is cranking, then it's likely a poor connection. It's not un-heard-of to see a new battery drop a cell or to see the regulator or stator go out of a new altenator. Jump start it...At the battery you should get 13-15v @ 2-3k rpm, more or less=alt problems. The "click-click-click-click" is the solenoid clicking because there isn't enough juice to keep it engaged...(dim headlights) Seen lots of electrical problems posted lately and it seems that very few folks actually own or use a volt/ohm meter. These things aren't that expensive and will save you lots of time hunting and it'll also save alot of money on parts that you won't be throwing around....Another good item to have is a good 12v test light. I actually carry a test light in my glove compartment.... Never leave home without it..... Good Luck.... __________________ 1983 C10 SWB 2001 Silverado SWB 1995 Corvette

12-22-2003, 11:21 PM	#12
TIMSPEED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,321	Well..there was only ONE relay under my dash, down by the fuse panel...so I took it off, and everything still works, so I guess that was my horn relay...well, hopefully it won't drain my battery anymore...none of my other cars have horns, LOL. __________________ I have a few cars... See Them Here

12-22-2003, 11:33 PM	#13
BaggedC10 Under construction! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NorCal Posts: 1,065	I had the same problem w/ my truck, Tim. A faulty horn relay drained two of my batteries. __________________ 2001 Silverado bagged on 22's. Sold

12-23-2003, 04:28 AM	#15
Mike76251 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,500	Here's a old tip that I am gonna pass along in spite of that avatar of yours.....LOL Unhook the + battery cable and rig a 12v light between it and the battery. If it lights up you have draw. Pull fuses until it don't light anymore and you have found your draw.

12-23-2003, 07:19 AM	#16
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	To make sure you have the horn relay, put the one you pulled back in and press the horn button. You should hear it clicking. Pull it back out and then try it. If no click, you have the right one. The horn relay on my 85 is on a little panel up under the dash above the steering column. I just want to say that you guys are amazing. The amount of help in this forum is nothing short of top notch. Great work everyone. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

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