Won’t start. No power at all. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Jazham · 03-04-2018, 04:48 PM

I have a 71 Cheyenne with an HEI that will not start. Battery is good. Alternator is good. Was running fine. Turned the truck off for five minutes then tried to crank her up. Nada. No lights. No horn. No click. It’s like there isn’t a battery in the truck. I’m stumped. Anyone run across a similar issue?
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P7M89MM · 03-04-2018, 06:57 PM

Sure you’ve thought about this, but I’ve done it before - Truck is in Park correct?

weq92f · 03-04-2018, 07:04 PM

If it's an automatic jiggle the shifter around a bit and/or shift it around a few times to make sure your safety switch is set properly. If not, check your clutch safety switch.

Otherwise check your ignition switch?

Does accessory position do anything?

Did you break a mirror in those 5 minutes?

-klb

mikeshome · 03-04-2018, 08:15 PM

Not being in park wont make the lights not work,Ckeck both battery terminals then fusable link ,poss off battery should go to it on fender.

weq92f · 03-04-2018, 09:42 PM

Right. Something probably shorted. That or the battery gave up the ghost.

-klb

57taskforce · 03-04-2018, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeshome

Not being in park wont make the lights not work,Ckeck both battery terminals then fusable link ,poss off battery should go to it on fender.

This...

Dicon · 03-05-2018, 01:05 AM

Had this happen. Negative cable loosened and was contacting a painted surface although it looked to be properly connected.

**Steeveedee** · 03-05-2018, 01:27 AM

Check all your connections, and when that doesn't work, buy a battery. This is the failure mode for batteries, these days. Used to be you'd get a week or so of slow cranking before the battery went Tango Uniform. Now, it's "It was just fine, then nuffin'!"

Bought my wife a Kia Soul a little over two years ago. Turns out that the batteries in those things last only a little over two years. I have an inductive ammeter, which showed a 6 amp draw even after a half hour of the vehicle being shut off. No wonder! Now we just know that we'll have to look after the battery far more closely than we did before. That's pretty poor design, as far as I am concerned. I have a Kia Forte, and the draw is less than a fraction of an amp after I shut it off. I took the gauge up to the dealer, and we sampled two other Souls. Same result as my wife's. My youngest son has a Soul as well, so now we know to check the battery after two years. I bought the new battery for my wife at NAPA, so I'll take it in once a year to have it checked. I'll pay $100 any day for my wife or any member of my family not being stranded because of a battery. The inconvenience alone is worth avoiding.

Jazham · 03-05-2018, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P7M89MM

Sure you’ve thought about this, but I’ve done it before - Truck is in Park correct?

Yep. In park.
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demian5 · 03-05-2018, 12:56 PM

I've seen the little plastic block bolted to the pass fender with the single stud and nut cause this issue.

Pull off the wires and clean them up and try again.

**A1971Blazer** · 03-05-2018, 01:04 PM

sudden, full dead electrics is usually loose or corroded battery ground

toolboxchev · 03-05-2018, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazham

I have a 71 Cheyenne with an HEI that will not start. Battery is good. Alternator is good. Was running fine. Turned the truck off for five minutes then tried to crank her up. Nada. No lights. No horn. No click. It’s like there isn’t a battery in the truck. I’m stumped. Anyone run across a similar issue?
Posted via Mobile Device

Check above your fuse block where the Horn Relay is located. Make sure you have power there.

Jazham · 03-05-2018, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weq92f

If it's an automatic jiggle the shifter around a bit and/or shift it around a few times to make sure your safety switch is set properly. If not, check your clutch safety switch.

Otherwise check your ignition switch?

Does accessory position do anything?

Did you break a mirror in those 5 minutes?

-klb

Jiggled already. Nada.
Posted via Mobile Device

Kuzican · 03-07-2018, 02:23 PM

If you have an aftermarket amp / volt gauge check and see if you have power going in and out of it. that's what happened to me some one had wired the fuse box feed through the amp gauge. it went out, no power.

weq92f · 03-07-2018, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuzican

If you have an aftermarket amp / volt gauge check and see if you have power going in and out of it. that's what happened to me some one had wired the fuse box feed through the amp gauge. it went out, no power.

Oh my.

lowbucktrucks · 03-07-2018, 07:21 PM

This happened to me today. Cleaned and tightened battery terminals - no change.
checked and cleaned engine ground - no change
went to clean electrical connection on pass. fender found loose wire got truck cranked. I had parts s10 and grabbed one off it to replace rusted stripped old one.

franken · 03-07-2018, 09:48 PM

The OP needs to get a voltmeter and start thinking about the paths of current to and from the battery,
Measure battery voltage across battery terminals--good means nothing. 12.6V is charged and no load.
Charge the battery.
The small wire off the + terminal powers all the low current stuff.
Saying no power at all w/o measuring voltage is of no help.

54belair · 03-08-2018, 11:43 AM

Loose battery cable or fusible link burned thru. Take voltmeter and see where you Do have voltage.

Coley · 03-08-2018, 01:58 PM

Simply put....you are going to need a voltmeter and an hour or two to do some checks.
As much as I and others would like to say its a simple, single identifiable loose bolt that can be solved in 3 minutes with a flat blade screwdriver....it may not be...and only a methodical check and test of your system is going to solve this.

Do you have a Multi-tester/voltmeter and are you familiar with how to use it?....this is job 1.

Coley

03-04-2018, 04:48 PM	#1
Jazham Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Bossier City Posts: 4	Won’t start. No power at all. I have a 71 Cheyenne with an HEI that will not start. Battery is good. Alternator is good. Was running fine. Turned the truck off for five minutes then tried to crank her up. Nada. No lights. No horn. No click. It’s like there isn’t a battery in the truck. I’m stumped. Anyone run across a similar issue? Posted via Mobile Device

03-04-2018, 06:57 PM	#2
P7M89MM Registered User Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 101	Re: Won’t start. No power at all. Sure you’ve thought about this, but I’ve done it before - Truck is in Park correct?

03-04-2018, 07:04 PM	#3
weq92f Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 3,040	Re: Won’t start. No power at all. If it's an automatic jiggle the shifter around a bit and/or shift it around a few times to make sure your safety switch is set properly. If not, check your clutch safety switch. Otherwise check your ignition switch? Does accessory position do anything? Did you break a mirror in those 5 minutes? -klb __________________ 67 C10 fleet fuel injected '70 402, 700r4, 3.73 posi 07 335 sport turbo 6sp 94 Trans Am GT LT1 6sp posi -- sold after 22yrs 99 540 sport V8 6sp -- sold 73 240z L24 4sp -- given to friend 68 C10 step 350/350 3.73 open -- sold

03-04-2018, 08:15 PM	#4
mikeshome Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Mount Albert.Ontario Posts: 119	Re: Won’t start. No power at all. Not being in park wont make the lights not work,Ckeck both battery terminals then fusable link ,poss off battery should go to it on fender.

03-04-2018, 09:42 PM	#5
weq92f Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 3,040	Re: Won’t start. No power at all. Right. Something probably shorted. That or the battery gave up the ghost. -klb __________________ 67 C10 fleet fuel injected '70 402, 700r4, 3.73 posi 07 335 sport turbo 6sp 94 Trans Am GT LT1 6sp posi -- sold after 22yrs 99 540 sport V8 6sp -- sold 73 240z L24 4sp -- given to friend 68 C10 step 350/350 3.73 open -- sold

03-05-2018, 01:05 AM	#7
Dicon Registered User Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Cave creek, az Posts: 7	Re: Won’t start. No power at all. Had this happen. Negative cable loosened and was contacting a painted surface although it looked to be properly connected.

03-05-2018, 01:27 AM	#8
Steeveedee Who Changed This? Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 10,318	Re: Won’t start. No power at all. Check all your connections, and when that doesn't work, buy a battery. This is the failure mode for batteries, these days. Used to be you'd get a week or so of slow cranking before the battery went Tango Uniform. Now, it's "It was just fine, then nuffin'!" Bought my wife a Kia Soul a little over two years ago. Turns out that the batteries in those things last only a little over two years. I have an inductive ammeter, which showed a 6 amp draw even after a half hour of the vehicle being shut off. No wonder! Now we just know that we'll have to look after the battery far more closely than we did before. That's pretty poor design, as far as I am concerned. I have a Kia Forte, and the draw is less than a fraction of an amp after I shut it off. I took the gauge up to the dealer, and we sampled two other Souls. Same result as my wife's. My youngest son has a Soul as well, so now we know to check the battery after two years. I bought the new battery for my wife at NAPA, so I'll take it in once a year to have it checked. I'll pay $100 any day for my wife or any member of my family not being stranded because of a battery. The inconvenience alone is worth avoiding. __________________ ~Steven '70 Chevy 3/4T Longhorn CST 402/400/3.56 Custom Camper Simi Valley, CA

03-05-2018, 12:56 PM	#10
demian5 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Lake Forest, CA Posts: 2,177	Re: Won’t start. No power at all. I've seen the little plastic block bolted to the pass fender with the single stud and nut cause this issue. Pull off the wires and clean them up and try again. __________________ "Work hard, use your vacation days." 1970 C15 GMC Long Bed 1986 C20 Scottsdale 1983 K2500 Sierra Classic Suburban 6.2 Instagram: C10sofOC

03-05-2018, 01:04 PM	#11
A1971Blazer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 2,130	Re: Won’t start. No power at all. sudden, full dead electrics is usually loose or corroded battery ground __________________ 1967 C10 Step side 1968 C10 Step side 1970 Chevrolet K/5 Blazer 1972 Chevrolet K/5 Blazer .............

03-07-2018, 02:23 PM	#14
Kuzican Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Louisiana Posts: 37	Re: Won’t start. No power at all. If you have an aftermarket amp / volt gauge check and see if you have power going in and out of it. that's what happened to me some one had wired the fuse box feed through the amp gauge. it went out, no power. __________________ :

03-07-2018, 07:21 PM	#16
lowbucktrucks Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Buck creek, sc Posts: 90	Re: Won’t start. No power at all. This happened to me today. Cleaned and tightened battery terminals - no change. checked and cleaned engine ground - no change went to clean electrical connection on pass. fender found loose wire got truck cranked. I had parts s10 and grabbed one off it to replace rusted stripped old one.

03-07-2018, 09:48 PM	#17
franken Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,068	Re: Won’t start. No power at all. The OP needs to get a voltmeter and start thinking about the paths of current to and from the battery, Measure battery voltage across battery terminals--good means nothing. 12.6V is charged and no load. Charge the battery. The small wire off the + terminal powers all the low current stuff. Saying no power at all w/o measuring voltage is of no help.

03-08-2018, 11:43 AM	#18
54belair Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: bolivar, mo Posts: 839	Re: Won’t start. No power at all. Loose battery cable or fusible link burned thru. Take voltmeter and see where you Do have voltage. __________________ 1997 shortie stepside 1968 short stepside 1966 mustang 1966 chevelle ss Dont always go the cheapest route--You can save yourself into the poorhouse! My Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=489030

03-08-2018, 01:58 PM	#19
Coley Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Victoria, B.C Posts: 3,794	Re: Won’t start. No power at all. Simply put....you are going to need a voltmeter and an hour or two to do some checks. As much as I and others would like to say its a simple, single identifiable loose bolt that can be solved in 3 minutes with a flat blade screwdriver....it may not be...and only a methodical check and test of your system is going to solve this. Do you have a Multi-tester/voltmeter and are you familiar with how to use it?....this is job 1. Coley __________________ ....for some men, there is experience, skill and effort....for the others...there is visa and UPS LOL 1966 Chevy 1/2 ton (Florida- Red/white) 1972 Chevy 1/2 ton (California- Blue/white) 2005 Chevy Silverado HD2500/Duramax 2000 Dodge Ram 1500



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