sounds like your definitly out of starter fluid... top that off and it should start right up <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />. kidding! and welcome back... heres beers. something i did not see in what you did, is "clean" all the connections. keep it simple... if it were me, id disconnect all electrical hook ups (one at a time) and clean them. start off at your battery terminals and hit every little offshoot on your way down to your starter. cheaper than hiring a wrench to charge you a bill an hour with a shop minimum than to spend a hour of so to do what is just good maintenance. if that doesnt work id bet dollars to pesos on your starter solinoid, which can be bypassed. one more thing, if your battery isnt sealed check the water level. if its low, it wont hold power well and what it does hold wont be enough to crank over the engine... and you can top it off with distilled water.
btw, no need to just come around when somethings not working right... you should come see us on the "chat" side. were all pretty easy going nice guys... well must of us. and besides who couldnt use advice on life issues, reasons why heeps sucks, threads that never seem to end on how many of us it takes to change a light bulb and more of the same. personally, i think alot of us... errrr... i mean them need medication.

[quote]sounds like your definitly out of starter fluid... top that off and it should start right up <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />.
[color:"blue"]Darn!! Why didn't I think of that? I missed a blonde moment when I had a good opportunity! [/color]

btw, no need to just come around when somethings not working right... you should come see us on the "chat" side.
[color:"blue"]You know, I do miss the forum when things are running smoothly. LOL I don't know how hubby would feel about me chatting with mechanically superior men but what the heck, alls fair in love and truck performance. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> I don't think I'd have that much to offer back to the forum since I'm not the brightest flasher bulb in the bunch when it comes to major repairs. But hey, if someone needs a darn good recipe for chocolate chip cookies, I'm on it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />I guess since I've kept the truck running for 15 years I must be doing something right, but I give more credit to Mitsubishi engineering than myself.[/color]

Now for another question; The battery and connections were all checked and cleaned and appeared fine. When jumped with another vehicle though, the truck turns right over. Please tell me my problem is simply a dead battery! A new one is on the way anyway, but is this simply a coincidence?

I find it hard to believe that the battery was the issue when the car died after just sitting for 15 minutes with nothing left on. Not even a weak battery starting sound.
But I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Batteries I can do. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

It's starting to sound like a simple dead battery.

If it's more than 2 years old replacing it is a good idea anyway. I'd give it a shot.

One more question, you said it "turns right over", but does it start and run?

I need that recipe, I have a recipe forum that can always use a good cook. http://zywie.com/smf/smf/index.php



Batter voltage is low, 13 or better

So how old is battery?
Check alternator, needs to be done while spinning.
At the parts store or on the vehicle. The car should stay running at idle with the lights on when you disconnect the negative cable from the battery.

If you have a volt meter that works too. 13.75 is the number I look for.
On mine the terminal connection at the starter, (small wire) went bad and did what you speak of. But I also lost the alternater too, so when the voltage went down, it wouldn't give me but a little click, and I would work the key and it would start eventually, but it was just a loose wire at the starter compounded by a bad alternator.

Without seeing your battery connections etc, my money is on the alt/ battery combo. They like eachother so alot of times they go out together. One reason is that when a battery gets older it takes more charging, putting more stress on the relationship <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Ok so give me my cookies already <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[color:"blue"]You'll get your cookies when my truck is up and running and I can bake them on the hot exhaust system. It's part of the secret...carbon monoxide makes them fluffy and light. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> Your post gives me more to check out next time I get a break in the weather, and I'll be sure to check out the cooking forum too. [/color]

[color:"blue"]It ran while sucking juice off the jumper car. I felt confident that I was dealing with a dead battery, but now I realize that the alternator could have killed it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Probably with Colonel Mustard in the library with a lead candlestick. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
[/color] [color:"blue"] <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" /> For some reason that struck me as funny. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> [/color]

Ok, now I'm really confused. I've not gotten much done since all this rainy weather. Yesterday afternoon it stopped raining so I decided to begin a more thorough analysis, thanks to all the good advice given.

On a whim, I decided to just try to start it. Truck started right up and ran fine. :-o Drove several miles and not a sign of anything wrong. Idled fine with lights on, no sign of dimming lights. Battery reading was over 13, and actually read 14.25. I was surprised at the high reading, I fully expected a low one and that it would drain quickly.

This may sound stupid, but would having a wet, damp, truck have anything to do with better connections or grounds? If so, any advice on a remedy? On the days the truck gave me problems, the weather was clear and dry.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />