question about jump starting

I recently killed my battery by leaving my overhead light on. I tried to jump my truck off, when i hooked up the cables, all the lights worked and so did the door ding, but when i turned the key i got no clicking or anything. Is it just a bad battery or something else?
Thanks

 

Hi Mat, I always connect the cables from battery to battery, start the vehicle you are using to jump yours with and let it run for about 5 to 10 minutes. Turn that vehicle off and try to start yours with the cables still connected. Always make sure you have a good connection with the cable clamps and also use a good set of cables. If you still don't get any starter response, you'll have to start diagnosing your problem. Try the above first.

 

yea i know how to jump it off, i was just wondering why it wouldnt work, i did what i have always done, and the lights came on, but no clicking or anything when i turned the key it was just silent

 

Hi Mat, how old is the battery? Even if it is fairly new it could be the problem. I don't know what your experience or knowledge is or what tools you have available. I would start with the basics and make sure your battery cable clamps are clean and tight, and check your cable connections to the starter and ground connections as well.

 

im not sure how old the battery is because i just got the truck about a year ago, i just bought a battery charger, and will have to remove the battery to charge it, so i will check the connection while im doing that
thanks

 

If the battery is too dead you need to disconect the negative lead and jump to that or else it it trying to recharge the battery and you don't get enough juice to start.

 

It should jump, regardless of the battery. Sounds like a starter issue. How old is your starter?

 

I have had that problem in the past and disconnecting the negative lead worked. Also I have a reoccurring problem with the contact on the negative lead of the starter (bolted to bottom of starter) on my ’95 PreTaco. Not enough juice flow (slow crank or solenoid click only) and I need to take it off and clean it from time to time then it works just fine.

 

No click from the solenoid is a good indication of a bad connection, solenoid, park/neutral switch, or neutral/park not selected.