[SunDog67]

1999 GMC Sierra 1500 Ext Cab (old body style) 305 (5.0 liter)

This weekend, I had what seemed like dying battery problems. Turn the key; lights, radio, fuel pump, etc all power up. Try to start, and just clicking. I replaced the battery with a new one (was due for a new one), and still the same thing. Then I discovered that the positive cable had considerable corrosion at the terminal connectors and post. Using baking soda and water, and a flathead screwdriver, I cleaned everything that I could down to bare metal on the cable connectors and bare lead on the side post. This did the trick. I had the old battery tested, and the guy at Checker said that it had a charge, but a shorted cell. So, even though I have the new battery and cleaned cables, I plan to replace the entire positive side cabling with new ones.

2 days later: I started having the same problems again; would have to wiggle the positive side cable while my friend kept turning the key to finally get it to start. I replaced the positive side cables with new ones from the dealer and it started right up. Here are the GM part #'s and the prices that I paid for new cables for my particular truck:

Positive:
# 12156900 $56.98
# 12157093 $47.58

Negative:
# 12156901 $26.90

Pretty expensive, but I'd rather go with oem on stuff like that. Also, the pricing above was from a Chevy dealership; the exact same cables (same part #'s) were 25% higher in price at the local GMC dealership!!!

Hope this helps!

SunDog67