Odd no start issue

[iaresev]

Ok. I drive for work, and need to get this thing together this weekend, so all help is appreciated.

Truck is a 99 4x4 4.0 auto. I'm going to try to describe the sequence of events as completely as possible.



Truck was running/starting fine, problem was NOT intermittent at all.
Tried to start the truck, made ONE click, and all lights/beeps/etc. turned off. (ala bad battery terminal which I recently fixed)
Jumped truck, it started, ran fine, drove back to my office, and parked for an hour.
Went to drive away (assuming it was a one time occurrence) and the problem was still there.
Jumped it again and drove home, where it is parked now, still not starting on its own.



Battery reads 12.8 across the [new] terminals, but when I had someone turn the key the voltage dropped really low, then comes back.
ALL electronics stop working if I try to start the truck, but if I close the door and leave for a few minutes, or pull the battery terminal off and put it back on, the dome light, etc will work again until I try to start the truck again.

I have not bench tested the starter, I intend to, but I am almost certain it is an electrical issue.

Help!



What diagnostics should I perform, and can anyone give me some insight that has had this happen before? I don't mind buying a new starter, but I don't think that is the issue.

 

[aspevacek]

Take it to Auto Zone or one of those placesand have them load test the battery. If the battery is the original that came in the truck or 3 or more years old I would look at replacing it.

 

[06RangerXLT]

if it starts under a boost, and doesnt under its power, you have a fried cell in your battery. They screw off at random times. Usually a draw causes them to fail.

Its not your alternator, and you said it starts fine when boosted.

Battery needs replacing.

 

[iaresev]

Battery was taken to Advance and tested, it tested fine. Could there still be a fried cell in the battery? It's a pretty new, pretty expensive thing. I did clean the whole battery and terminals within the last 3 weeks with baking soda and water, it's unsealed so could that concoction have leaked in to the cells and killed it? Keeping in mind that it did test AOK at Advance.

 

[iaresev]

Bought a new battery cable from Advance, the kind that has a terminal with two connectors coming off of it. Put it on, looked at some stuff, tried to start it, and presto.


If anyone has this issue in the future, make sure your battery is good, and your starter is functioning well, but this fix only cost me a couple bucks.

And I went to the junkyard and got a new window motor and a rearview mirror that isn't cracked today too! SUCCESS!