Next Troubleshooting Step?


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Old 09-20-08, 09:06 AM
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Next Troubleshooting Step?

My 2002 Chevy Suburban won't start. First thought is battery. Have tried to jump butwith no luck. Car is completely dead -- won't turnover, no lights -- nothing. When I connect to the jumper batter, lights come on and it turns over for a second but doesn't have enough juice to turnover. Tried charging battery but it will not take a charge (charger amps stay essentally at zero). What's the likely causes (battery so dead it won't charge at all, some other electrical issue?) and what should my next trouble shooting steps be?
 
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Old 09-20-08, 09:09 AM
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Check your battery cables and connections. Clean connections. Have battery tested.
 
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Old 09-20-08, 09:47 AM
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Do you have a voltmeter? The fact the battery does not take a charge could mean the battery is already charged, and could be any cause from battery posts outward through ignition, relay, solenoid, starter, or poor ground. But before wasting your time on any search and destroy mission I'd see if battery says 12 volts or so, and then go from there, obviously starting with Michael's suggestion.
 
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Old 09-20-08, 10:28 AM
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Internally shorted battery perhaps; how old is the battery?
 
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Old 09-20-08, 10:39 AM
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I've found even with a fully charged battery, the charger will jump up in amps, then rapidly go down to low amps.

It really sounds like an open connection in the battery. Not a common thing, but it can happen. Normally they short a cell.

And trying to start a car with essentially no battery in the jumped car would give the symptoms described. Your connections sound good past the battery, since you have accessories and it turns over for a second.

Get ye to an auto parts store for a battery check. And take enuf money for a new one.
 
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Old 09-20-08, 08:16 PM
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did this happen overnight?
 
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Old 09-21-08, 09:56 PM
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Checked the Battery -- it was good. Replaced cables -- they were bad. Car is running fine. Thanks for the advice.
 
 

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