electrical issues in the GTA

[blackbeauty89]

so last weekend, i was having issues with the GTA where all of a sudden, i'd lose all electrical functions in the car as if my battery wasn't connected. Battery was only a year old, it's a duralast from autozone. i tested it with my volt meter, and it was at 10 volts. took it down to exchange, they determined the battery was still good after charging it for an hour, and cleaning the posts and everything. they weren't in bad shape either. also got the alternator tested and that was good. threw the battery in, starts right up no problems.

so i let the car sit for a couple days this week, to see if i would notice a draw of some sort, or to see if it wouldn't start. nothing happened. started everytime. let it sit for 2 days even. kept an eye on the volts gauge, and what i noticed is right away when i started it up, it would be past 13 volts. probably at 14 where it should be. after driving for about 15 minutes, the needle moves down to right around 13 and eventually stays around there after driving. i suppose that could be when my radiator fan kicks on. just an observation though.

i go out of town saturday night. drive the car around earlier that day and park it. didn't drive it all day sunday. today i go to drive it, everything is working now, but it isn't cranking. the starter isn't even turning over. once it did actually start and then died right away. kept trying and eventually it started again and this time i kept my foot on the gas so it wouldn't die, and it sounded like it has a misfire at first. then idled down and it ran just fine like nothing was wrong. shut it off, tried again and it didn't turn over again.

here's a video of what it's doing.

[wrencher]

Looks like a power issue for sure.
You should check that battery at the terminals when cranking see what the voltage is.
If it's @ 10 sitting there it's not charged. Thats not likely gonna start anything.
See what it's at cranking at the posts.

Either it's that or you have a bad connection somewhere causing a voltage drop.
Those are a little harder to find but can be done with a voltmeter.
The cables or ends/ connections can be at fault in that case.
I suspect you should look at the battery first though. Make sure the terminals are clean & tight.

[Thirdgen89GTA]

Originally Posted by wrencher

Looks like a power issue for sure.
You should check that battery at the terminals when cranking see what the voltage is.
If it's @ 10 sitting there it's not charged. Thats not likely gonna start anything.
See what it's at cranking at the posts.

Either it's that or you have a bad connection somewhere causing a voltage drop.
Those are a little harder to find but can be done with a voltmeter.
The cables or ends/ connections can be at fault in that case.
I suspect you should look at the battery first though. Make sure the terminals are clean & tight.

That looks fun. I'd also check the ground that goes to the block. It should be on the drivers side near the front of the head. The cable on mine got corroded pretty bad on the block side once. It should bolt to the block near the power steering pump.

Should have two grounds leading off the battery. One to the block, and one to the body. There are also 2 grounds on the back of the heads to the firewall, one on each head.

[88blkiroc]

Had an issue like this on a buddies suburban, a heat shield over the starter came loose and was grounding out on the block when trying to start. I dont think you have a heat shield but it cant hurt to check. Other then that, make sure all your connections are good and tight, grounds are good and that you have a good starter.

[FineTuned28]

I've run into similiar issues. My money would be on a bad/loose connection. Or a melted cable.

[xpndbl3]

Originally Posted by 88blkiroc

Had an issue like this on a buddies suburban, a heat shield over the starter came loose and was grounding out on the block when trying to start. I dont think you have a heat shield but it cant hurt to check. Other then that, make sure all your connections are good and tight, grounds are good and that you have a good starter.

hmm i think i know that guy.


at least the issue hasn't come back up since then....what a dumb thing to cause it too.