2003 silverado starting problems.

[Button Nubbs]

Over the past couple days sometimes when I go to start my truck it won't turn over, just click click click. All accessories work and most of the time when I loosen and tighten the battery cables it starts. I cleaned both sides but it did it again this morning when I stopped at the gas station. I haven't checked the battery ground but am going to dig into it today when/if I get home.ill start withthe negative ground. Does this sound like an alternator or starter pproblem or maybe the battery itself?

[vandeman17]

Sounds like a starter problem to me but can be a few different things. I had something similar happen and it turned out to be my starter.

[JLS]

So the connections to the starter itself are clean and tight?

[Button Nubbs]

Have not checked that yet

[JLS]

Check those, I'm guessing one of those is loose.

[Button Nubbs]

Will do

[jackelope]

There's a thread on this very topic somewhere on here. A lot of GM trucks' battery bolts would bottom out before they tightened. This would cause the sort of problem you're experiencing. We used to take them to a bench grinder, just grind a little bit off the end and you'd be good to go. Probably done it 15 times, including my '02 Silverado.
It's not an alternator issue for sure. Could be a starter. I'd start by checking those bolts if it were mine. If you pull on the cables and they move at all, I'd do the grinder thing to them.

[Button Nubbs]

There's a thread on this very topic somewhere on here. A lot of GM trucks' battery bolts would bottom out before they tightened. This would cause the sort of problem you're experiencing. We used to take them to a bench grinder, just grind a little bit off the end and you'd be good to go. Probably done it 15 times, including my '02 Silverado.
It's not an alternator issue for sure. Could be a starter. I'd start by checking those bolts if it were mine. If you pull on the cables and they move at all, I'd do the grinder thing to them.

Thanks jack!

[swanny]

Just throwing it out there that changing the starter sucks! It's the biggest PITA to get in and out when laying on your back. If you do have to change it, find a friend with a lift

[jackelope]

Just throwing it out there that changing the starter sucks! It's the biggest PITA to get in and out when laying on your back. If you do have to change it, find a friend with a lift

Book time is .7 hours. 42 minutes in and out.
 

[Button Nubbs]

Looked at it last night and it seems pretty straight forward and is one of the easier things to gett to.

[swanny]

Just throwing it out there that changing the starter sucks! It's the biggest PITA to get in and out when laying on your back. If you do have to change it, find a friend with a lift

Book time is .7 hours. 42 minutes in and out.
 

When I did mine in my 02 it came out fine, back in sucked! I'm sure with a lift it would have made life easier though, I was laying on my back 

[coachcw]

I've seen loose nuts at the starter , but typically it's at the battery bolt . if it's bottomed out you will be able to turn the cable a bit by hand . often the cables get corrosion between the two , i'd pop the lead lug out and pull the rubbers of and give them a good cleaning .

[Button Nubbs]

Really reefed the battery cables down and haven't had a problem yet.