Truck wont crank

[Hanky]

I have a 2005 yukon xl with 5.3.
Battery, starter, alternator, grounds, connections are good. Starter is getting 12.5v to it. Connections to battery are clean and solid! This started after i put in cheap led license plate lights like an idiot and right after it wouldnt crank at all just clicks but not fast clicks. Swapped out starter relay with one i knew was good and same thing relay clicks. When i turn key the battery starts to get drained quickly. What could putting led license plate lights have done to make it where it wont even crank?? Any solid suggestions are much appreciated!

 

[TollKeeper]

Start by jumping the battery. Just because it shows good volts, does not mean it doesnt have a bad cell.

Next, try jumping the starter, at the starter. Kinda hard to do on these because of its location, but can be done.

 

[OR VietVet]

Welcome to the forum and do you have a theft deterrent system?

 

[Hanky]

TollKeeper Jumping the battery didnt work with 2 good batteries i tried. Jump the starter? How would you go about getting into that tight space? With normal cables? MO VietVet im not sure if i have theft detterant would i have certain fuses for that or how would i be able to tell. Would that possibly be affected from putting in led for license plates even tho they didnt even blow a fuse?

 

[Doubeleive]

smack the starter with a hammer a couple times if it goes that's your problem, might be the problem regardless if you get a click and no-go then the battery is low or the starter is kaput
alternatively you can pull the starter and bench test it with 12v

 

[Hanky]

TollKeeper Jumping the battery didnt work with 2 good batteries i tried. Jump the starter? How would you go about getting into that tight space? With normal cables? MO VietVet im not sure if i have theft detterant would i have certain fuses for that or how would i be able to tell. Would that possibly be affected from putting in led for license plates even tho they didnt even blow a fuse?

Im trying to understand why it wouldnt even crank after putting in a license plate light. If it was a different watt than it should have been what would that most likely mess up to the point that it just drains the system when i go to start it.

 

[Hanky]

Im trying to understand why it wouldnt even crank after putting in a license plate light. If it was a different watt than it should have been what would that most likely mess up to the point that it just drains the system when i go to start i took the leds out too

 

[Hanky]

smack the starter with a hammer a couple times if it goes that's your problem, might be the problem regardless if you get a click and no-go then the battery is low or the starter is kaput
alternatively you can pull the starter and bench test it with 12v

Brand new starter with good connection

 

[Doubeleive]

Brand new starter with good connection

that means nothing, a click and no start means bad starter or low voltage, they can be bad out of the box
bench test to verify.

 

[Hanky]

Start by jumping the battery. Just because it shows good volts, does not mean it doesnt have a bad cell.

Next, try jumping the starter, at the starter. Kinda hard to do on these because of its location, but can be done.

Tried 2 batteries one brand new and same thing. Jump it at the starter? How would you do it with normal cables?