little cranking power, sometimes none? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

cochino12 · 03-07-2008, 08:31 AM

New battery, cables look to be fairly decent but I have very little cranking power. Went out to start it the other day and it wouldnt crank, so I changed the ground wire from frame to the alternator bracket and it started up but still didnt have much cranking power but worked for a few days.

Tried starting it up again tonight and nothing no crank at all and when I turned the key off it appears that I let the smoke out of somthing. I did notice the strap from that is usually hooked from firewall to head is attached to the exhaust manifold? Besides changing the cables does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance

**N2TRUX** · 03-07-2008, 09:40 AM

Check and double check all your grounds, and look close at the bottom side of your positive cable. I had one that split and severely corroded once that looked perfect from the top.

Have you checked output at the alternator? It could be working on the low side but not the high side. That will cause slow or low charging creating enough power to run, but not enough to start.

mhicks · 03-07-2008, 05:00 PM

May sound like a stupid question but is the battery charged up?

cochino12 · 03-07-2008, 10:50 PM

went to parts store before work and grabbed a couple cables, replaced the negative cable (the smaller gauge wires fried) and figured I'd try it before I got too dirty and it fired up just like it was supposed to. Works great now, I'll replace the positive side when we get some decent weather

LpStreetKing · 03-08-2008, 02:43 AM

Yes i am kind of having the same problem with my truck also. Saturday i was at a light and i had my stereo cranked up and when the light turned green i gunned it. Well right as i did that my truck died on me so i pulled over and popped the hood. My friends dad hooked up some sort of wire where there is a interchangable fuse in it. I fried the fuse and replaced it with a new one, and then as i tried to start it it would crank but it wouldnt start, and as i pressed the gas pedal and tried to start it i heard something pop in the exaust my friend said that i flooded my truck so we had to tow it back to my house and then later on that night i tried to start it again but it wouldnt start and for the past 5 days i have been trying to start it but it wont start wvwrything in my truck electical works but my truck wont start. I have no idea what to do and right now moneys kind of an issue so i really dont have that much to spend. I have no idea what to do. I could really use yalls help and it would really be greatly appretiated

cochino12 · 03-08-2008, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LpStreetKing

Yes i am kind of having the same problem with my truck also. Saturday i was at a light and i had my stereo cranked up and when the light turned green i gunned it. Well right as i did that my truck died on me so i pulled over and popped the hood. My friends dad hooked up some sort of wire where there is a interchangable fuse in it. I fried the fuse and replaced it with a new one, and then as i tried to start it it would crank but it wouldnt start, and as i pressed the gas pedal and tried to start it i heard something pop in the exaust my friend said that i flooded my truck so we had to tow it back to my house and then later on that night i tried to start it again but it wouldnt start and for the past 5 days i have been trying to start it but it wont start wvwrything in my truck electical works but my truck wont start. I have no idea what to do and right now moneys kind of an issue so i really dont have that much to spend. I have no idea what to do. I could really use yalls help and it would really be greatly appretiated

I'm not sure but isnt there a fusible link somewhere that you may have popped? maybe just run a temp jumper wire from battery and see if that works.

LpStreetKing · 03-08-2008, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cochino12

I'm not sure but isnt there a fusible line somewhere that you may have popped? maybe just run a temp jumper wire from battery and see if that works.

Im sorry sir but i have no idea what that is lol

piecesparts · 03-08-2008, 03:06 AM

Cables MAY look great, but replace them and then question the cranking power, if it does not improve.

LpStreetKing · 03-08-2008, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piecesparts

Cables MAY look great, but replace them and then question the cranking power, if it does not improve.

yes sir a week ago my friends dad did that he relaced all the wiring

**lolife99** · 03-08-2008, 07:12 AM

I had the same problem. Ended up being my starter. But not before it melted the positive post right out of my new battery.

lt1bbody · 03-08-2008, 08:08 AM

I had a problem that was similar. It was the post on the solenoid. Somehow it got loose. I tightened it up and no problems.

LpStreetKing · 03-13-2008, 01:52 AM

but see wouldnt it have happened like right away if there was a problem?

I mean it happened so far down the road my truck was running perfect and then this happens how is that possible?

spr85gmc · 03-13-2008, 06:59 AM

i guess im not the only one witht his problem my truck has done it like 5 time just decides it wont start 3 times had to get it towed ..........

lurch115 · 03-13-2008, 08:16 AM

wow! and here i thought this was a once in a while problem....had a positive battery cable on a caprice with bad motor mounts that the exhaust manifold burned through the casing and the cable over time corroded....i wish i still had that cable to take a pic of it and post it....it was almost 2 inches in diameter from all the corrosion

oh and another thing to think about is the ignition switch that is under the dash on top of the steering column they will do the samething also

spr85gmc · 03-13-2008, 08:57 AM

i had thi rpoblem since about mid december about 1 every 6 weeks more or less i swear it something electrical but went as far as changing out my distributor. if any one finds out what up with our truck please share hmmmmmmmmmmmm maybe they just getting old

03-07-2008, 08:31 AM	#1
cochino12 It followed me home? Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Yup Posts: 5,751	little cranking power, sometimes none? New battery, cables look to be fairly decent but I have very little cranking power. Went out to start it the other day and it wouldnt crank, so I changed the ground wire from frame to the alternator bracket and it started up but still didnt have much cranking power but worked for a few days. Tried starting it up again tonight and nothing no crank at all and when I turned the key off it appears that I let the smoke out of somthing. I did notice the strap from that is usually hooked from firewall to head is attached to the exhaust manifold? Besides changing the cables does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance __________________ Adam That's why they call it a shortcut Kyle, if it was easy it would just be the way. 86 c-10 SWB 85 CCSB 90 GMC K30 Crew SRW 1985 C30 Dually Last edited by cochino12; 03-07-2008 at 08:32 AM.

03-07-2008, 09:40 AM	#2
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,023	Re: little cranking power, sometimes none? Check and double check all your grounds, and look close at the bottom side of your positive cable. I had one that split and severely corroded once that looked perfect from the top. Have you checked output at the alternator? It could be working on the low side but not the high side. That will cause slow or low charging creating enough power to run, but not enough to start. __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

03-07-2008, 05:00 PM	#3
mhicks Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Weatherford,Tx Posts: 747	Re: little cranking power, sometimes none? May sound like a stupid question but is the battery charged up?

03-07-2008, 10:50 PM	#4
cochino12 It followed me home? Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Yup Posts: 5,751	Re: little cranking power, sometimes none? went to parts store before work and grabbed a couple cables, replaced the negative cable (the smaller gauge wires fried) and figured I'd try it before I got too dirty and it fired up just like it was supposed to. Works great now, I'll replace the positive side when we get some decent weather __________________ Adam That's why they call it a shortcut Kyle, if it was easy it would just be the way. 86 c-10 SWB 85 CCSB 90 GMC K30 Crew SRW 1985 C30 Dually

03-08-2008, 02:43 AM	#5
LpStreetKing Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Laporte, Texas Posts: 83	Re: little cranking power, sometimes none? Yes i am kind of having the same problem with my truck also. Saturday i was at a light and i had my stereo cranked up and when the light turned green i gunned it. Well right as i did that my truck died on me so i pulled over and popped the hood. My friends dad hooked up some sort of wire where there is a interchangable fuse in it. I fried the fuse and replaced it with a new one, and then as i tried to start it it would crank but it wouldnt start, and as i pressed the gas pedal and tried to start it i heard something pop in the exaust my friend said that i flooded my truck so we had to tow it back to my house and then later on that night i tried to start it again but it wouldnt start and for the past 5 days i have been trying to start it but it wont start wvwrything in my truck electical works but my truck wont start. I have no idea what to do and right now moneys kind of an issue so i really dont have that much to spend. I have no idea what to do. I could really use yalls help and it would really be greatly appretiated

03-08-2008, 03:06 AM	#8
piecesparts Parts and more parts Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere Posts: 6,821	Re: little cranking power, sometimes none? Cables MAY look great, but replace them and then question the cranking power, if it does not improve.

03-08-2008, 07:12 AM	#10
lolife99 67-72 parts collector,… Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 22,703	Re: little cranking power, sometimes none? I had the same problem. Ended up being my starter. But not before it melted the positive post right out of my new battery. __________________ Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823

03-08-2008, 08:08 AM	#11
lt1bbody Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hibbing, MN Posts: 11	Re: little cranking power, sometimes none? I had a problem that was similar. It was the post on the solenoid. Somehow it got loose. I tightened it up and no problems.

03-13-2008, 01:52 AM	#12
LpStreetKing Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Laporte, Texas Posts: 83	Re: little cranking power, sometimes none? but see wouldnt it have happened like right away if there was a problem? I mean it happened so far down the road my truck was running perfect and then this happens how is that possible?

03-13-2008, 06:59 AM	#13
spr85gmc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: san antonio Posts: 648	Re: little cranking power, sometimes none? i guess im not the only one witht his problem my truck has done it like 5 time just decides it wont start 3 times had to get it towed ..........

03-13-2008, 08:16 AM	#14
lurch115 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: iowa Posts: 722	Re: little cranking power, sometimes none? wow! and here i thought this was a once in a while problem....had a positive battery cable on a caprice with bad motor mounts that the exhaust manifold burned through the casing and the cable over time corroded....i wish i still had that cable to take a pic of it and post it....it was almost 2 inches in diameter from all the corrosion oh and another thing to think about is the ignition switch that is under the dash on top of the steering column they will do the samething also __________________ "Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, torque is how far you carry the wall with you." '84 chevy half ton short box 2wd, 67,000 actual miles '03 chevy 1500 HD crew cab 4x4 standard box, 6.0L Last edited by lurch115; 03-13-2008 at 08:17 AM.

03-13-2008, 08:57 AM	#15
spr85gmc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: san antonio Posts: 648	Re: little cranking power, sometimes none? i had thi rpoblem since about mid december about 1 every 6 weeks more or less i swear it something electrical but went as far as changing out my distributor. if any one finds out what up with our truck please share hmmmmmmmmmmmm maybe they just getting old



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