So my up to now reliabe truck left me on the side of the road a few days ago. The battery drained an died. So I took the alternator an battery out had them tested an replaced them, I also replaced the positive battery cable as it was bad. It started up fine an drove as it has for a day or so. I was on my drive home when it drained the battery an died. The truck will not restart now, but seems to have good power. Tested the battery, an solenoid both have 12.3 volts. I also replaced the negative battery cable to the block an chassis. If I try to start the truck both cables get warm. Is it a possible grounding issue even though I replaced the cables or would a bad starter solenoid cause this. It clunks at the solenoid when I try to start it, won't even try to turn over.

 

If the battery is good, the cables and connections are good, and the cables only get hot when you are trying to start it, I'd be replacing the starter. If something inside the starter is starting to short out it'll drain the battery and cause those cables to get hot.

 

I'll yank it off an get it check.

 

and brother

 

So after a couple long days, trucks back running as it was before. It ended up being a starter issue. It was smoked an then popped the solenoid. I also did some other things that were related to the battery draining. New battery cables an ground cables, new solenoid, new starter. An from the tow I would assume I saw a brake fluid leak that was not there before the tow. So I also put on new brake shoes, an a new rear brake cylinder that was leaking. That was fun had to heat up the brake line fitting to get it loose from the line to avoid breaking the line. But it's all done now an the truck is back home an seems to be all good again.