01 Tahoe won't start... No clicking

[bottomline2000]

Check the connections on the starter and the ground wire. It's behind the power steering pump on the block. EZ access to it from underneath. It may be loose..

 

[SLCHOE]

Pull the battery terminals off and check them for corrosion. Unless the battery is so sulfated that it actually acts as a resistor, you should be able to jump it if you have clean battery connections.

If they are corroded, get a container of almost boiling hot water and pour it over the terminals (AFTER YOU HAVE THEM DISCONNECTED AND AWAY FROM THE BATTERY). This is a cheap and easy way to clean off the corrosion. Forget the coca-cola and baking soda crap you've heard. Very hot water. Clean the battery side posts with a wire brush and reattach the battery terminals. See if it cranks.

My educated guess is that your battery is weak and sulfated. A load test after a charge would decide it. The flickering lights and the pulsating brake pedal lead me to draw this conclusion. When it fired right up later I would bet the ambient temperature outside was much warmer. Electronics do funny things within the 7 -10 volt range. The buzzing pedal was most likely the ABS modulator trying to energize then de-energining and so forth.

Batteries don't work so well in the cold when they are weak.

 

[wiplash2001]

Pull the battery terminals off and check them for corrosion. Unless the battery is so sulfated that it actually acts as a resistor, you should be able to jump it if you have clean battery connections.

If they are corroded, get a container of almost boiling hot water and pour it over the terminals (AFTER YOU HAVE THEM DISCONNECTED AND AWAY FROM THE BATTERY). This is a cheap and easy way to clean off the corrosion. Forget the coca-cola and baking soda crap you've heard. Very hot water. Clean the battery side posts with a wire brush and reattach the battery terminals. See if it cranks.

My educated guess is that your battery is weak and sulfated. A load test after a charge would decide it. The flickering lights and the pulsating brake pedal lead me to draw this conclusion. When it fired right up later I would bet the ambient temperature outside was much warmer. Electronics do funny things within the 7 -10 volt range. The buzzing pedal was most likely the ABS modulator trying to energize then de-energining and so forth.

Batteries don't work so well in the cold when they are weak.

Thanks for the reply. My battery was only a month old and I cleaned up the terminals then but just to make sure they are perfect I'll clean them again with your method.

 

[wiplash2001]

Ok I went and had my battery tested and it was only at 5 volts. The guy said he's never seen an Optima battery go bad. I will install it tomorrow.

 

[SLCHOE]

Check your terminals before you hook them up. Also, once the truck is running, put a voltmeter on the battery and see if you are getting about 14.4 Volts. If you're not, your alternator is not charging and that is causing your battery to go bad.

 

[bottomline2000]

Ok I went and had my battery tested and it was only at 5 volts. The guy said he's never seen an Optima battery go bad. I will install it tomorrow.

I was going to mention this before but I went thru about 4 optima batteries..3 red and 1 yellow before switching to a diehard platinum. It's a rebranded Odesssy battery. Seems to be more reliable than the optimas I had. I know Sears stopped carrying the optimas..

 

[SLCHOE]

I was going to mention this before but I went thru about 4 optima batteries..3 red and 1 yellow before switching to a diehard platinum. It's a readied Odesssy battery. Seems to be more reliable than the optimas I had. I know Sears stopped carrying the optimas..

Those are great batteries and great for the price.