2001 Tahoe Dead

[palallin]

Just went to start our Tahoe. The light came on as normal when opening the door, and I stuck the key in the ignition. I just started to turn it when everything went dead as a doornail: no lights, no sounds, no nuthin'.

I don't have a load tester, but the battery is nearly new and shows 12+ volts with a VOM.

Where do I start?

[Palf70Step]

Battery is more than likely culprit, even if it is new or fairly new. I'd take it some where for them to check it under load. If you have another person and a voltmeter, check the bolts when the other person turns the key. If it drops to 10 or below, you have bad battery

[palallin]

Thanks for the reply!

You are partly right, anyway: it was those d@mn side-terminals on the battery. They had worked just loose enough that there was no connection. A little tightening, and all appears to be well. When it's not snowing and heading toward zero, I will undo them completely and check for cleanliness.

[Palf70Step]

My daughter's Bonneville had that issue too. Never figured out hy, but she got rid of it with 260K. Wonder if the guy that bought it had same issue?

[Redneck Rydes]

Every side terminal battery I have I removed that stupid little bolt,and put in a 2" bolt with a jam nut on it,just thread the bolt in slowly till it bottoms out GENTLY,then back of and tighten jam nut,never will come loose and you can put booster cables on it so much easier.

[palallin]

Not a bad idea at all, RR!