please help it wont start!

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

hi i have been a member for a while now but finally had to pay up for help, i recently purchased another 83 k5 for $500 bucks, its got a mild built 350 and has been abused through out its life, when i picked it up it had been sitting for a while but started right up, i take her home and now i turn the key and all i get is clicking from the starter, i figured the solenoid was bad and a reman starter was cheaper up here in alaska so i put in a new starter in today and again just clicking, can anyone help me?

 

[throttleissues]

Double-check your battery connections and see if it was charging (since it may have run the battery down driving it home). The cables themselves could even cause that to happen. Anything that could cause a lower voltage at the starter can cause it to just click instead of turning over. Good luck.

 

[4X4HIGH]

VERY FIRST CHECK should be battery voltage, then remove the cables and use a wire brush to clean both the cable ends and the battery terminals, then do a load test on the battery. If the battery test good and ALL connections are clean and tight it will start (well crank anyways). If this vehicle sat for more than 6 months the fuel needs to be drained and properly flush the fuel tank and all lines otherwise you're in for a disaster.

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

thanks, i will start with that in the morning weather permitting, i dont believe it has sat for more than six months as it ran good when i drove it home.

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

ok so i cleaned all the cables and made sure there were no exposed spots in the cables, it all looked good, the battery came out to 11.70 so its on the charger any thing else i could do to get it to engage?

 

[imiceman44]

ok so i cleaned all the cables and made sure there were no exposed spots in the cables, it all looked good, the battery came out to 11.70 so its on the charger any thing else i could do to get it to engage?

That battery is toast, it shouldn't be less than 12volts even if it's empty.
It should be 12.5volts after charging and cooling time.
Usually as soon as you take it off the charger it will be 13 to 13.5 volts.
and after about an hour it should settle to 12.5v and if it goes lower than 12.5v it's not holding a charge because a cell has gone bad.
When a battery is empty it will go down to 12v, any lower means a cell has gone bad.
You might be able to work with this battery if it was warm weather for maybe another few months but at this point just buy a new battery and I guarantee you it will be the end of your troubles for a couple of years at least.

 

[throttleissues]

But it started fine, when he picked it up. I'm guessing a problem with the charging system ran it down while driving home. After you charge it up, it'll probably start. Then check to see if the alternator is working at all.

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

well thanks to everyone who threw ideas out for me, i just took the batt off the charger and she turned right over, looks like im goin out and buyin a multimeter, thanks.