98 silverado Z-71 will not start!!

[mparmley]

I have a 1998 chevy Z-71 and will not start. When i turn key it just clicks,clicks,clicks and more clicks. The pu has about 145K miles on it. I noticed some smoke coming from the battery terminals when i was attemting to turn it over. The battery is clean. I replaced the starter with a BRAND NEW ONE. Please help if you can. Thanks

[bigbadram51]

I would double check the battery and make sure its good... if it has the original battery, its could be due for a replacement..... Check the connections at the cables.... any little bit of corrosion can cause it not to get enough of a charge to start... If any doubt get terminal cleaner or a can of coke works, although that is a bit messy... Make sure your cables have no splits... did you change the starter solenoid at the same time as the starter itself...

[mparmley]

Thanks. The battery was replaced almost 3yrs ago and still runs at a little over 12volts, Starter came with new soilenoid. I have had this problem before and noticed batt connections were a little loose so i tightend them and no problem until recently. Should i replace battery cables anyways??? I did notice a little black burning on the positive cable connection at the battery.

[bigbadram51]

I would either change the cables or if you have enough slack, cut off the current connections and put new ones on.... I had the same problem when I had my dodge and I thought the connections were clean. But once I put new ones on, problem solved.

[J-Ri]

I would replace the cables. Often times, the worst corrosion is inside the insulation. On these trucks the cables are so easy to replace, I'd just do both. Be sure to clean the starter B+ and engine ground as well.