'88 K1500 Won't Start

[GritMaster]

Kind of an odd situation.

Tried to start my truck up and it Cranked for almost 1/4 of a second then everything died and I lost all electrical. got the battery load tested and it checked out A-ok, alternator is brand new. Tried jumping it and no luck... but after i reset the positive connection to the battery I regained electrical. went to try and crank it over again and same result. Maybe im just not thinking outside of the box... but im completely stumped on what's causing this... Any ideas?

[MT-2500]

If you are losing electrical check all battery cable ends and grounds.
Got add on cable ends?
If so they are a good place to start.

[GritMaster]

Checked them all and everything seems good. I get full electrical everywhere until I try to start the ignition and then I lose everything. Resetting the positive connection on the battery allows me to get back all the electrical until i try and fire it up again. seems like a switch is overloading or something

[intimadatorsquizz]

There should be 2 positive battery cables going to your battery. In between them is a lead spacer and they were know to corrode a lot. Take the bolts out and check or replace the long bolt and the spacer. Also check the positive treminal on the battery to make sure it's not loose.

[spunbearings]

I had a problem like this on my 89 vette, it turned out the actual lead terminal inside the battery was broke and moved around inside the battery housing. It would only get an intermittent connection.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by GritMaster

Checked them all and everything seems good. I get full electrical everywhere until I try to start the ignition and then I lose everything. Resetting the positive connection on the battery allows me to get back all the electrical until i try and fire it up again. seems like a switch is overloading or something

It is losing power some place.
If resetting /R&R positive cabel helps that is the place to look first.
Get a 12 volt test light and check for 12 volt power from batterty and then ends and back to ign switch and positive on starter.

One some positive from starter runs threw a stud and fuse links on firewall.
Does headlights quit when starter quits?
If so there is a power lose some place.

[777stickman]

Sometimes batt cables can look real good. But corrosion can get under the rubber covering that the eye cannot see. From your post I would replace both Pos & Neg batt cables and go from there.

[GritMaster]

Everything electrical cuts out after i try to crank. Head lights, gauges, windows, cabin lights, horn, Hazard lights etc. going out tomorrow to fiddle some more and see where the current stops flowing, or if it does.

When i tested initially i was still getting current to the alternator, didn't check for anything at the starter that time though.

Thanks for all your ideas so far


Truck's dead almost 40 miles from where I live. makes working on it a pain

[Bob B]

Hi,
My 97 did exactly this loosing electrical and wiggling the cable would temporarily fix it.
I finally took the positive cables off the battery bolt and fully cleaned the ends,
Been fine for two years now.
Bob B