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2002 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 HELP!
Posted on 9/3/21 at 12:58 pm
Posted on 9/3/21 at 12:58 pm
We keep an 02 Sierra 4x4 at our fish and hunt camp. Last few attempts to start it sounded like the starter was dragging. It finally quit turning over so we replaced the starter and still can't get it to turn over. One thought, among no other good thoughts, is that it is major electrical or mechanical. Anybody ever run into this? The old truck has been flawless until this problem reared it's head. Local mechanic mentions taking it to dealership but warns that it could cost more to identify and fix than the old truck is worth. Any help would be appreciated! 
13
Posted on 9/3/21 at 1:10 pm to LaRougarou
Check voltage at battery and starter when cranking using a multi meter. Could be as simple as a 20 year old battery cable is bad internally
Posted on 9/3/21 at 1:13 pm to weadjust
quote:
Check voltage at battery and starter when cranking using a multi meter. Could be as simple as a 20 year old battery cable is bad internally
Battery cable and check your ground wire to motor.
Posted on 9/3/21 at 1:17 pm to LaRougarou
quote:
Local mechanic
He can't tell you what is wrong with it?
Posted on 9/3/21 at 1:22 pm to LaRougarou
I would try to jump from a known good battery to the starter itself with jumper cables. If that works , its the wire to the starter. Could be positive or negative.
Posted on 9/3/21 at 2:18 pm to LaRougarou
I have an 03 Tahoe and started having electrical problems last yr. Turns out it was the alternator.
Posted on 9/3/21 at 3:00 pm to LaRougarou
quote:
taking it to dealership but warns that it could cost more to identify and fix than the old truck is worth.
IMO…that generation of trucks/suv may be the best chevrolet ever made.
I drive a 02 Tahoe (2wd) that’s about to hit 300k and have only replaced normal wear stuff. Still runs strong.
I’m with everyone else..battery….cables…grounding strap. Double check that you tightened the cables to the starter good.
Posted on 9/3/21 at 3:08 pm to LaRougarou
I’d definitely check as much wiring as you can yourself. If you leave the truck at the camp that often, rats and even squirrels love to gnaw on wires. Also as stated earlier, check your ground for a good connection. Corrosion kills amperage and starters need amps. It’s quite possible you’re getting 12-14 volts to your starter, but chewed wires or bad connections won’t get the amps needed.
Posted on 9/3/21 at 4:26 pm to LaRougarou
I had an old gmc with starting issues. It was the ground cable…. Baw that suggested I change it said it was a common failure on older gm trucks.
Posted on 9/3/21 at 7:47 pm to LaRougarou
I would check the battery and alternator.
If you have a volt meter, check the battery’s voltage when it’s running. If it doesn’t jump up above 12v then the alternator isn’t charging.
Check the battery for corrosion on the terminals.
If you have a volt meter, check the battery’s voltage when it’s running. If it doesn’t jump up above 12v then the alternator isn’t charging.
Check the battery for corrosion on the terminals.
Posted on 9/3/21 at 9:09 pm to LaRougarou
Not sure if applicable but I had one that year and it had the instrument cluster issues that I thought were common. Is it doing weir things on the panel before/during start?
Posted on 9/3/21 at 9:36 pm to calcotron
There should be a relay that picks up to turn that starter.
Don't overlook that.
Don't overlook that.
Posted on 9/3/21 at 9:38 pm to LaRougarou
I’ve had something very similar happen in the past. It was the alternator
Posted on 9/4/21 at 4:45 am to calcotron
Yes. One thought was that it was security coding related.
Posted on 9/4/21 at 10:31 am to upgrade
quote:
chewed wires or bad connections won’t get the amps needed.
'02 2500 here. That was my issue battery was dead every time I went to start it due to wires shorting out. Dealership replaced a bunch of wiring for a reasonable price and it is good to go now. They thought it was an animal chewing on it, but I think they just got old and brittle, and much of the wiring is horribly run along the outside of the frame so it takes a beating from the elements as well.
Posted on 9/4/21 at 7:15 pm to Kingpenm3
Much thanks for everyone’s input. Gonna start with the wiring and go from there. I’ll try to post our “fix” if we have success. Geaux Tigahs!
Posted on 9/4/21 at 8:55 pm to LaRougarou
If you local mechanic can’t figure out an issue with a 2002 Sierra then You need to find a new mechanic. Half the guys that work at the dealership weren’t alive in 2002.
This post was edited on 9/4/21 at 8:56 pm
Posted on 9/6/21 at 6:06 am to LaRougarou
Older chevys have more ground straps than down the bayou houses. Check them all. A rusty bolt can really mess up your week, and leave you changing the starter and battery cables multiple times in July in a hot AF parking lot. Ask me how I know. 
Posted on 9/6/21 at 12:44 pm to LaRougarou
Is it a manual trans? If it is, check the switch behind the clutch pedal. If it's automatic try starting it in neutral. Also try this: turn your key to engage the starter, let the switch spring back to "run" position. walk away and leave it alone for 10 minutes. Then turn the switch off for 10 seconds, then try to start it.
Posted on 9/22/21 at 10:06 am to LaRougarou
Sorry I’m a little slow getting back to everyone who was kind enough to offer their input but I had a surgery and it slowed me down getting the vehicle into the dealership. The problem, as suggest on here, was bad ground wire connections. There were two that had to be replaced. The bill was a little less than $400 and most of that was for time to smoke out the problem. I mentioned to the service guy that I thought that ground wires might be the culprit. He said he wouldn’t be surprised as many older trucks have experienced this same problem. Sure enough, you guys were right. I am much obliged! You guys are a lot more knowledgeable than the guys on the Rant.
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