I'll try to provide as much info as I can, but I'm completely stumped with a electrical issue on my '04 Suburban 1500 that prevents me from starting the truck (or any electrical response now).
I've had an problem with what I thought was a bad ground where the truck will be functioning fine, then I'll park it, step away for a minute, hop back in, and when I try to start it, it won't start. It'll sometimes click a bit, sometimes try and fail to turn over, or get minimal current with the gauges fluttering and dash lights flickering. This typically happens 2-3 times a year. The battery is fully charged and healthy. To solve the issue in the past, I disconnect the ground from the batter to clean off any corrosion from the cable end and reattach. Sometimes it works the first time. Sometimes I have to fiddle with it a bunch of times until I can get a solid connection, but it's always been correctable and the problem will disappear for a number of months.
A couple days ago though, I ran into the same issue, but was unable to correct it as I had in the past. I removed the rubber boot from the stud/contact and gave it and the battery terminal a thorough cleaning, but the problem persisted. I checked the battery and it was showing normal (12.4V) touching the multimeter lead to the battery terminal, but when I screw in the stud and take my reading touching it, it only reads 4.5-5V.
I was able to get a jump, but it took a few tries. Inititally, it struggled to turn over, but eventually I was able to get it started by tapping the starter (which appeared to be seizing a bit) while starting the ignition. At that point, I drove home, and as soon as I parked it and turned the ignition off, it instantly died. No running lights, no interior lights, etc.
I have since replaced the ground cable altogether, but am running into the same issue. Still no electrical response. Normally, when attaching the ground cable to the terminal, I'll get a few small sparks per usual, but now there is nothing. The battery is still normal (12.4V), and even with the new cable, I get the same reading as above (4.5V) when touching the multimeter lead to the ground stud. Leaving all cables connected overnight yielded no change, as in, no battery discharge, but still no electrical response in the truck. One small thing is that cigarette outlet still shows power for my phone charger (though I haven't taken a reading with the multimeter).
What can I look into next?
I've had an problem with what I thought was a bad ground where the truck will be functioning fine, then I'll park it, step away for a minute, hop back in, and when I try to start it, it won't start. It'll sometimes click a bit, sometimes try and fail to turn over, or get minimal current with the gauges fluttering and dash lights flickering. This typically happens 2-3 times a year. The battery is fully charged and healthy. To solve the issue in the past, I disconnect the ground from the batter to clean off any corrosion from the cable end and reattach. Sometimes it works the first time. Sometimes I have to fiddle with it a bunch of times until I can get a solid connection, but it's always been correctable and the problem will disappear for a number of months.
A couple days ago though, I ran into the same issue, but was unable to correct it as I had in the past. I removed the rubber boot from the stud/contact and gave it and the battery terminal a thorough cleaning, but the problem persisted. I checked the battery and it was showing normal (12.4V) touching the multimeter lead to the battery terminal, but when I screw in the stud and take my reading touching it, it only reads 4.5-5V.
I was able to get a jump, but it took a few tries. Inititally, it struggled to turn over, but eventually I was able to get it started by tapping the starter (which appeared to be seizing a bit) while starting the ignition. At that point, I drove home, and as soon as I parked it and turned the ignition off, it instantly died. No running lights, no interior lights, etc.
I have since replaced the ground cable altogether, but am running into the same issue. Still no electrical response. Normally, when attaching the ground cable to the terminal, I'll get a few small sparks per usual, but now there is nothing. The battery is still normal (12.4V), and even with the new cable, I get the same reading as above (4.5V) when touching the multimeter lead to the ground stud. Leaving all cables connected overnight yielded no change, as in, no battery discharge, but still no electrical response in the truck. One small thing is that cigarette outlet still shows power for my phone charger (though I haven't taken a reading with the multimeter).
What can I look into next?
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