hey whats up everyone. Luckily, I havent had ta come here in a while. Here is my problem: For a few weeks now I have had power problems. I have taken a few long trips and this has happenned a few times along the way. The power will cut off for a reason I do not know. After a few minutes, it will come back on and be ok. The battery is fine. As of right now, my 01 xtreme will not start. The power will go on, I'll turn the key, and it will click once and shut right off, a few minutes later it will go back on. I am thinking I have a short somewhere or something. Does anyone know what I am talking about and can anyone help me out. Much appreciated, thanks.
mark

 

i had the same problem in my 89 camaro. The guy i bought the car off of had put in a starter button. The wires were too small of gauge and ended up burning up. But what you described is exactly what was happening to me. I would go to start my car and it would click and there would be no power for alittle bit, then all of a sudden it would have power again, then one day i went to start it and it just clicked and the power NEVER came back. The problem, My wireing under the hood where the guy spliced in for the starter button had burned up, and i had to replace about a foot of 3 different wires. Pop you hood, and look under your dash for anything in your wireing that looks unusual. Hope you figure it out

 

pigmak, sounds like you have an ignition switch problem on your hands. Run a search and decide for yourself if this is the case. It has happened to quite a few people here, but sadly, not many have returned to say what the outcome was...

 

thanks for responding swartllk. when you say run a search, what exactly do ya mean? i am clueless. I will def come back and let ya know if that was it if I knew how to run a search. thanks again

 

so a bad ignition switch can cause me to have no power whatsoever? I have nothing right now, no lights, power or anything. I figured the ignition switch only controlled the ignition. THis can cause me to have no juice at all?

 

SEARCH<-- click and enter a search term - like any other search engine, but restricted to the forum. It is also available in the menu bar at the top.

Well, if by lights you mean exterior lights (headlights, etc) as well, no, the ignition switch should only control the interior lights, dash, radio, start/run of the engine, etc. I took your description to mean that the truck would shut off randomly, then refuse to start back up, not that there was no power to everything. A dead battery shouldn't cause the truck to just randomly shut down unless you had a weak alternator as well...

If the truck is completely dead, I would look into the battery first. A corroded positive battery terminal is known to be a problem with factory AC Delco batteries. If you can get the truck to an Autozone or Advanced Auto and have them put it on their charging system analyzer, they should be able to give you a good idea of what is wrong.

Now that I know you mean total loss of power, this is very similar to what happened with my Bravada. Cause was a corroded positive battery terminal. From the outside, looked perfectly clean. When I tried to remove the cables to clean the contact faces, the negative came out just fine. However, the positive cable did not. With a slight pressure on the wrench, the entire positive lug came out of the front of the battery. All kinds of corrosion on the back side.

If the battery is of unknown age, probably best to replace it.

 

thanks all, i cleaned up positive terminal. took off red protector, think it was the protector keeping it from a good connection. either way its good now

 

I would like to recommend that you use some dielectric grease on the terminals to keep this from happening again later on.

Glad it was something simple!!

 

If your problems reappear and you have engine stalls while running when gauges go blank and then come back with engine after a second or two and starting difficulty such as turning the key and only getting the starter and no fuel pump and such, then it probably is a failing ignition switch mine went for weeks like that somedays good others terrible. This problem also stumpted my GM mechanics had I known what it was months ago I could have saved $300 in labor.