electrical help please! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

glendale · 02-02-2010, 12:37 AM

hey guys i am on the 60-66 side most of the time. i have 03 tahoe also though. tonight i went to dinner with the wife and then to walmart. we came out and the tahoe would not start and the lights were super dim.oh and it smeeled like rotton eggs under the hood. so i went back in an bought a new battery. we have had the truck for 3 years and never replaced it. so i said why not. well now with the new battery the lights wont even come on. so i put a volt meter on it 12.53 volts then i checked the old battery 12.43 volts. about that time the lights kick on. and the new battery smells like rotton eggs. and it still wont start. the positive lead is HOT to the touch. i also tested voltage at the red box that comes off the alternator and it was 12.43. so what do i do now? any tips will be greatly appreciated. i work on old cars without all of the mumbo jumbo.

**truckdude239** · 02-02-2010, 05:42 PM

check the starter you have sioome kind of sort. also check to make sure you batery cable is not grounded out

clinebarger · 02-02-2010, 06:04 PM

Sounds like a bad connection. Cut the rubber back on both battery cable ends and look for corrosion, clean them real good with a wire brush.

umwtnt · 02-02-2010, 06:47 PM

Definitely check your cables, I have had numerous problems with our fleet. Most of the time what clinebarger said is the problem. The corrosion runs down the cable and your better off replacing it. Its normally the positive side.

glendale · 02-02-2010, 10:14 PM

thanks guys it turned out to be the starter. i can tell you for sure i'm getting to old to replace them in the perking lot of walmart.

02-02-2010, 12:37 AM	#1
glendale Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: sacramento,ca Posts: 338	electrical help please! hey guys i am on the 60-66 side most of the time. i have 03 tahoe also though. tonight i went to dinner with the wife and then to walmart. we came out and the tahoe would not start and the lights were super dim.oh and it smeeled like rotton eggs under the hood. so i went back in an bought a new battery. we have had the truck for 3 years and never replaced it. so i said why not. well now with the new battery the lights wont even come on. so i put a volt meter on it 12.53 volts then i checked the old battery 12.43 volts. about that time the lights kick on. and the new battery smells like rotton eggs. and it still wont start. the positive lead is HOT to the touch. i also tested voltage at the red box that comes off the alternator and it was 12.43. so what do i do now? any tips will be greatly appreciated. i work on old cars without all of the mumbo jumbo.

02-02-2010, 05:42 PM	#2
truckdude239 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lewisville, Nc Posts: 10,217	Re: electrical help please! check the starter you have sioome kind of sort. also check to make sure you batery cable is not grounded out __________________ David fuller Ase Certified Mechanic Click here to help support our board!! 1971 Chevy c-10 under going a 4.8l LSx swap Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421305 2007 Honda Accord my daily 145kmiles 2002 Honda Accord 4 door With 330k(sisters car) 2005 toyota Avalon 228k( brothers car) 2002 Sububran 5.3 245k 2000 Tahoe 5.3l 378 General manager for Marco's Carwash & lube Last edited by truckdude239; 02-02-2010 at 05:43 PM.

02-02-2010, 06:04 PM	#3
clinebarger Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 6,370	Re: electrical help please! Sounds like a bad connection. Cut the rubber back on both battery cable ends and look for corrosion, clean them real good with a wire brush.

02-02-2010, 06:47 PM	#4
umwtnt Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Williamsburg, Va Posts: 226	Re: electrical help please! Definitely check your cables, I have had numerous problems with our fleet. Most of the time what clinebarger said is the problem. The corrosion runs down the cable and your better off replacing it. Its normally the positive side. __________________ The more I learn, the more I find out I don't know. 69 Chevy SWB w/67 front end 4 wheel discs 468 BB 700R4 Bagged Coming around slowly

02-02-2010, 10:14 PM	#5
glendale Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: sacramento,ca Posts: 338	Re: electrical help please! thanks guys it turned out to be the starter. i can tell you for sure i'm getting to old to replace them in the perking lot of walmart.



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