2000 silverado Elec. problems (HELP)

OK here goes I was driving home from a friends house and truck was running great stoped at the store came out started it up no problem. then I noticed the raido was cutting off and then all the warning lights on the dash started going crazy (ABS.BATT.BRAKE.LOW FUEL.SEATBELT)I was like what the hell. so I got it home shut it off and then it was just dead i mean nothing it was like someone just took out the battery and shut the hood but what gets me is if it were the battery or alt. would'nt There have been more notice because when I left the store it started no prob and headlights were bright and never dimmed or anything I am stumped somebody please help the new guy thanks

I would start by checking every fuse you can find, then move on to the alt or batt. Take each one out and have it checked by an autoparts store. Maybe a relay or relays blew, I'm not sure of a good way for you to test those though.

i say check all the fuses also. i bet its the alt though, from what you were saying.

Sounds to me like the battery is bad. My wife's venture did about the same thing. Everything went nuts, the battery was bad. Once the truck has started it runs off the alternator and has really no need for the battery, but then when you shut it off it needs the battery to restart.

I just bought a 1999 Silverado Z71 last night. Drove it home across town with no problems and to work this morning. Got in it at lunch and started it up with the exact same problems you're speaking of. Eratic gauges and intermittent radio. I drove it about 10miles and pulled into a parking lot. I turned it off thinking I might be able to start it back up, and it wouldn't start. No emergency flashers, nothing. I opened the hood and visually inspected the power wires on the battery and alt. I jiggled the wires, and it started right back up with no problems. Any other suggestions? Let me know if you find a fix.

I took the battery cables off of the battery and cleaned up some minor corrosion inside where the posts mount to the side of the battery. I haven't had the problem since. Any other suggestions?

I just bought a 1999 Silverado Z71 last night. Drove it home across town with no problems and to work this morning. Got in it at lunch and started it up with the exact same problems you're speaking of. Eratic gauges and intermittent radio. I drove it about 10miles and pulled into a parking lot. I turned it off thinking I might be able to start it back up, and it wouldn't start. No emergency flashers, nothing. I opened the hood and visually inspected the power wires on the battery and alt. I jiggled the wires, and it started right back up with no problems. Any other suggestions? Let me know if you find a fix.



SO could it just be a bad connection from the battery????

yes .... these acdelco battery's made from 98 to 03 are junk..... replace the battery or it will happen again ... i cleaned the post on mine twice and then the post just fell out of the battery ..... i know a few at the service dept. and they said batterys in them years are junk

If you get corrosion at the terminal a simple prevention is cover the post and any metal end on th cable with vasaline after cleaning the corrosion off. The vasaline delays the corrosion. They also make a spray. But make sure you clean all the surfaces, if the cable is corroded inside change the cable. With these trucks the coorsion keeps the truck from getting the amps and volts that the sensitive components require.

I had the same problem it ended up being the battery cable clean out all the corrosion and make sure that you tighten the cables. Also reset your alarm system.

how do you reset the alarm system, thanks inadvance.

I replaced the battery with an Optima and I've driven about 500 miles with no problems. The only thing that concerns me is that it doesn't start on the first turn of the key. I can crank it for an hour and it won't start. It starts no problem on the second turn but I can't figure out why. Any suggestions appreciated...I'm thinking alt, or maybe ign.