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2008 Suburban will not start


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matt04801
New User

Nov 16, 2015, 12:16 PM

Post #1 of 10 (1934 views)
  post locked   2008 Suburban will not start  

2008 Chevy suburban
75000 miles
My truck is giving me what I think are electrical problems. It would not start, so I jumped it and took it and got the battery replaced. They checked the alternator and said that it was good so I don't think that is the problem. Two days later while driving the interior lights started flashing, the traction control light came on, and the locks started going up and down. When I turned it off there was no power, it would not even try to turn over. I jumped it again and it sat in my driveway for two days. This morning I jumped it again and after 30 minutes of driving I stopped and is acting like there is no problem. It has been 4 hours and the power is still there and it will start. I do not want to put my wife and kids in it until I know it is fixed. Can any one help?


kev2
Veteran
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Nov 16, 2015, 12:30 PM

Post #2 of 10 (1930 views)
  post locked   Re: 2008 Suburban will not start  

this is auto repair BASICS, a tech should be able to quickly go thru those basics - 1hr ?
Is it a NEW battery, charging check, battery drain/draw key out of ign, Ign switch, battery cables, connections - things that would warrant additional checking, remote start, any added elec devices, any "codes'. unlikely after 8years but ck TSB's.


SWAG- something of an "issue" you are not relating...


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Nov 16, 2015, 2:14 PM

Post #3 of 10 (1922 views)
  post locked   Re: 2008 Suburban will not start  

Sure sounds like it's not charging to me.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



matt04801
New User

Nov 16, 2015, 2:27 PM

Post #4 of 10 (1914 views)
  post locked   Re: 2008 Suburban will not start  

I had someone tell me that I should replace the battery cables. With the power going in and out could that be the problem? There is a fuse close to the battery as well could the fuse be a problem maybe?


kev2
Veteran
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Nov 16, 2015, 2:31 PM

Post #5 of 10 (1913 views)
  post locked   Re: 2008 Suburban will not start  

diagnose before spending.


VoltMan
Novice

Dec 20, 2015, 1:52 PM

Post #6 of 10 (1869 views)
  post locked   Re: 2008 Suburban will not start  

If you had charging voltage at the battery then the cables should be ok, especially if the cables will crank it over which has a much higher amp draw than charging does, so cables and fuse probably ok as long as you have charging voltage at battery. How did they check your alt.? Just by voltage output? Cause it sounds like your battery is running down while driving and causing the erratic electrical operations you describe. You can have 14 volts alternator output and still not charge a thing if that voltage is AC due to a diode problem on the rectifier, have them check the voltage wave form on a scope to make sure it is making DC volts and not AC volts. AC voltage doesn't charge a battery. If a diode is bad it should turn on the light on your dash, but still cover that base to be sure.


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Dec 20, 2015, 2:17 PM

Post #7 of 10 (1865 views)
  post locked   Re: 2008 Suburban will not start  

You got to be careful with what kind of charging system your working on. This is called an electrical power management charging system. The engine computer can control the voltage output of the alternator based on inputs it receives from the BCM. There can be several modes the BCM can use to tell the PCM how to regulate the alternator's output. One of those modes is voltage reduction mode which has a target voltage of 13 volts. Got to be careful when diagnosing that system because you may see only 13 volts at the battery and think the alternator is not functioning. It will take more than a volt meter to properly troubleshoot that system.





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(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Dec 20, 2015, 2:21 PM)


kev2
Veteran
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Dec 20, 2015, 2:23 PM

Post #8 of 10 (1858 views)
  post locked   Re: 2008 Suburban will not start  

check dates OP has not returned


matt04801
New User

Dec 20, 2015, 2:44 PM

Post #9 of 10 (1849 views)
  post locked   Re: 2008 Suburban will not start  

Replaced the negative battery cable and it is completely fixed.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 20, 2015, 3:32 PM

Post #10 of 10 (1846 views)
  post locked   Re: 2008 Suburban will not start  

Sounds good. We'll close this one now.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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