Chevy s10 manual 216,000

[FirstCarChevys10ma]

I just got my first car, a chevy s10.
It ran fine until a few days ago. When I turned the ignition it started. It was raining and I was letting it heat up before driving home from a Darryl Scott concert but when I turned the lights on it died. I turned the lights off and tried to restart it but there was nothing. No lights came on and it didn't turn over at all. My friend gave me a jump today and it started right up. I hoped it might be the battery so i drove it around before parking it at home. When i got back I tried starting it back up but only turned over once and no lights came on. I want to fix this myself but hardly know where to start, does anyone have any suggestions?

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by FirstCarChevys10ma

I just got my first car, a chevy s10.
It ran fine until a few days ago. When I turned the ignition it started. It was raining and I was letting it heat up before driving home from a Darryl Scott concert but when I turned the lights on it died. I turned the lights off and tried to restart it but there was nothing. No lights came on and it didn't turn over at all. My friend gave me a jump today and it started right up. I hoped it might be the battery so i drove it around before parking it at home. When i got back I tried starting it back up but only turned over once and no lights came on. I want to fix this myself but hardly know where to start, does anyone have any suggestions?

Yes.
Start only with a jump your battery is dead or low and you may have dirty battery cabels connectonsor bad battery or bad alternator or blt sliping.
You need some proper testing on battery and charging system and battery cabels to know what to fix.

If I was you I would look at and clean battery cable ends.
Get a volt meter or test light on battery post at battery and then on cabel ends.
If battery is not up to 13.6 volts or light test light bright you will need to charge it up to do any more testing
If that gets it started head for a free batery and charging system test at your local parts place.
Or if still no start.

Get a jumper on it and get it started and head it for your local parts place and before you turn engine off.
Ask for a {FREE} battery and charging system test.
If they do not offer it free find one that does.
Most AZ and other good parts places do.

Let us know how it goes.
Have them check and charge battery and then load test.
Then test cable ends for proper connection.
And then check charging system.

Let us know how it goes.

[FirstCarChevys10ma]

Not sure what happened but after a few days of being in the sun the car started right up. the battery negative side was a bit lose so we adjusted that and didnt have any problems turning the lights on and off again when it was running. there was a wire that was open so we taped it up thinking that it might have been causing a short. The battery definitely does not need to be replaced as it showed a voltage of around 14 amps and was able to start the car after a few days of not moving. We were thinking that the rain must have caused a short somewhere because the engine shows rust and the hood does not have a good weather seal so we figured water must be getting it there.
Anyway my father in law helped me do a check on the drive shaft and u joint too. The u-joint was lose so it looks like we're gonna try to replace it along with the drive shaft.
Thanks for your response

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by FirstCarChevys10ma

Not sure what happened but after a few days of being in the sun the car started right up. the battery negative side was a bit lose so we adjusted that and didnt have any problems turning the lights on and off again when it was running. there was a wire that was open so we taped it up thinking that it might have been causing a short. The battery definitely does not need to be replaced as it showed a voltage of around 14 amps and was able to start the car after a few days of not moving. We were thinking that the rain must have caused a short somewhere because the engine shows rust and the hood does not have a good weather seal so we figured water must be getting it there.
Anyway my father in law helped me do a check on the drive shaft and u joint too. The u-joint was lose so it looks like we're gonna try to replace it along with the drive shaft.
Thanks for your response

You should do the proper testing as out lined in upper post when it is acting up.
Battery neg lose could have been your problem.
Batterys can load tested to find out how good they are.

Good luck