Suburban Starter issue at 30 below
#1
CF Beginner
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Suburban Starter issue at 30 below
Hello everyone,
Well, my beloved Suburban, Old Reliable, has not been living up to her name lately. Incidentally, she's a 1988 2500 with a 350 and 4 Wheel drive.
So here's the story. I came back to Fairbanks, Alaska from a few months away recently. Old Reliable, who usually starts no matter the weather, would not start. Turns out the battery was frozen. It was 30 below, afterall. So I thawed the battery out, took it to Napa, and had it charged. Battery came back charged and was diagnosed as working fine.
Plugged her in to Old Reliable. She has those screws that screw into the side of the battery, rather than clamping onto the terminals on top (What's that all about?). Lights, etc. all worked, but when I tried to start the engine, nothing. Well, not nothing precisely: I popped the hood, and could hear the starter click, like it was recieving a signal; but no cranking.
So what is happening here? Any help anyone can give would be very. . . helpful. It would be nice to have my wheels back, given that it's 30 below.
Thanks!
Jay
Well, my beloved Suburban, Old Reliable, has not been living up to her name lately. Incidentally, she's a 1988 2500 with a 350 and 4 Wheel drive.
So here's the story. I came back to Fairbanks, Alaska from a few months away recently. Old Reliable, who usually starts no matter the weather, would not start. Turns out the battery was frozen. It was 30 below, afterall. So I thawed the battery out, took it to Napa, and had it charged. Battery came back charged and was diagnosed as working fine.
Plugged her in to Old Reliable. She has those screws that screw into the side of the battery, rather than clamping onto the terminals on top (What's that all about?). Lights, etc. all worked, but when I tried to start the engine, nothing. Well, not nothing precisely: I popped the hood, and could hear the starter click, like it was recieving a signal; but no cranking.
So what is happening here? Any help anyone can give would be very. . . helpful. It would be nice to have my wheels back, given that it's 30 below.
Thanks!
Jay
#3
CF Senior Member
do you have an engine block heater? I would think those temps are not good for the engine or the oil.
if the starter just clicks I thought that meant the battery was bad? I would put in a different battery to make sure that isnt it.
oh BTW it was 65 degrees here today
if the starter just clicks I thought that meant the battery was bad? I would put in a different battery to make sure that isnt it.
oh BTW it was 65 degrees here today
#4
Administrator
When you go to the start position and hear a click, does the dome lite go out? If so, then either the battery is discharged or you have a bad cable connection either at the battery or the starter. If not, then probably a bad starter and/or solenoid.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
likearolingston
Silverado & Fullsize Pick-ups
3
January 12th, 2012 11:24 PM
pookster71
Tahoe & Suburban
1
December 27th, 2007 11:36 AM