Truck will not start

Ok, here is the problem. When I turn the key, I get a click. That's all.
The battery acts like it is fine. It is only 2 months old. I thought that
it might be the starter, but I have no idea. Need help. Thanks guys.

wallyg22 proclaimed:

> Ok, here is the problem. When I turn the key, I get a click. That's all.
> The battery acts like it is fine. It is only 2 months old. I thought that
> it might be the starter, but I have no idea. Need help. Thanks guys.
>

If you just get a click, the most likely cause is that your battery is
too low or your cables are dirty or loose. How are you coming to the
conclusion that your battery is fine? Does your vehicle have a
voltmeter in the guages?

If you have a Radio Shack in the area, pick up an inexpensive digital
voltmeter. Measure across the battery posts [not the cables] with the
key off. Then turn it on and turn on your headlights and measure it
again. Wait 5 minutes with the headlights on and measure again. You
should still see near 12 volts at the battery even after 5 minutes with
the lights on.

Note that you need to tell us roughly what the temperature is near your
vehicle, as the battery voltage should be about 12.6 volts if near 70
degrees, but it will go down to just over 10 volts when really cold.

The meter is also useful in checking your charging system which should
be about 13.7 volts across the battery at about 1500 rpm.

How are your battery cables? Shiny, clean and so tight you cannot move
them? When your battery was changed, did they clean up the area and
put a set of those felt washers at each post?

With a cheap digital voltmeter, you can also check to make sure that the
cables to your starter and starter solenoid are in good shape. Put one
lead on the positive battery post and one on the big bolt at the
solenoid [follow the cable down] and try to start. You shouldn't see
more than 1 to 2 tenths of a volt.

Where did you get your battery? Do they do charging system checks for
free?

The battery checked good..

Starter? This summer that happened to me. Every once in a while it would
not start (just one click), wait a little while and it would start. Then
one day it would not start at all. The shop I took it to said it was the
starter. They could bang on it and it would start, then bang it again and
it wouldn't start. They were surprised I had 110000 miles on it. They said
starts usually do not last longer than 60000 miles.

So far my low battery usually has multiple clicks.

Mike Neely
"wallyg22" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The battery checked good..
>

A dirty connection on one end of a battery cable will cause those
symptoms too. I would first clean both ends of both battery cables and
then see what happens.

If you take a hammer and give the starter a shot with it and it starts,
then the starter needs brushes. A set of brushes for a GM starter is
about ten bucks if you want to open it and fix it yourself.

The starter is located at the end of the main positive battery cable.

If you have a loose fan belt, it also can cause your symptoms by not
fully charging the battery.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Aug./05 http://www.imagestation.com/album/index.html?id=2120343242
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wallyg22 wrote:
>
> Ok, here is the problem. When I turn the key, I get a click. That's all.
> The battery acts like it is fine. It is only 2 months old. I thought that
> it might be the starter, but I have no idea. Need help. Thanks guys.

It was the starter..I took it to autoZone and it failed..Put the new one in
and saved myself $270..