Yesterday I left the driveway and 100’ later the truck died. 2nd attempt starting the truck acted like it had a cold, dead battery (no starter clicking btw). I used my lithium ion jumper, the truck started and I backed up ~50’ before the truck died again. This time I did not remove the jumper from the battery, and when the truck started I backed up to the house. The jumper had come disconnected at some point but held long enough.
I attached the trickle charger. It read ~60%. There’s no way I charged the battery from a point at which it couldn’t turn the engine to 60% in that amount of time with the jumper. Several hours later on a 15amp charging setting, the battery was 100%. I checked the battery this morning and it was 95% and again 95% this afternoon.
Based upon yesterday, I’m not looking to drive the truck to the garage which is ~8 miles. I’m thinking that whatever is going on, I won’t make it. I’m inclined to have AAA tow the truck to the garage. But I’m holding off doing so pending your opinion/response.
I don’t know where you live or whether you have another car. In my situation, I would first remove the battery and take it to an auto parts store to have the battery tested. If it’s bad, I would buy a new one and replace it myself. I would then drive it to the parts store and have the alternator tested.
If the battery isn’t bad, I then would probably go the towing route.
Most times when I see a no start happen happen on a GM vehicle, I can walk up and move the cables by hand on those lousy side terminals and the car starts.