Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Slow crank when cold

[KMott]

I have been trying to sort out this problem for a while, and im thinking the problem may be the starter.

Today it was -10 degress celcius, and the truck cranked over really slow. When i got home i tried unhooking each battery to see if one was stronger than the other, but they both seem to perform about the same (and the one is brand new)

With only one battery hooked up, the truck has trouble cranking over, even when its at operating temperature. Charging voltage is 14-15 based on the gauge in the truck. All cables are new and connections are good. Starter has Larry b contacts and plunger installed this past summer, brushes looked good also.



Should the truck crank over smoothly with one good battery? If it does need a starter, where is the best place to get one ?

( i found this on ebay)

eBay Motors: 94-2000 DODGE 5. 9 L CUMMINS DIESEL STARTER 100% NEW HD (item 320201247445 end time Jan-04-08 13:59:51 PST)



Thanks for any advice.

kevin m.

 

[CCiatteo]

I have been trying to sort out this problem for a while, and im thinking the problem may be the starter.

Today it was -10 degress celcius, and the truck cranked over really slow. When i got home i tried unhooking each battery to see if one was stronger than the other, but they both seem to perform about the same (and the one is brand new)

With only one battery hooked up, the truck has trouble cranking over, even when its at operating temperature. Charging voltage is 14-15 based on the gauge in the truck. All cables are new and connections are good. Starter has Larry b contacts and plunger installed this past summer, brushes looked good also.



Should the truck crank over smoothly with one good battery? If it does need a starter, where is the best place to get one ?

( i found this on ebay)

eBay Motors: 94-2000 DODGE 5. 9 L CUMMINS DIESEL STARTER 100% NEW HD (item 320201247445 end time Jan-04-08 13:59:51 PST)



Thanks for any advice.

kevin m.

I am no expert, but is the truck plugged in at night? When it gets cold like that in central Jersey (tonight is the first time this winter in the teens I think) and I don't plug mine it, it cranks slow. My guess is because the oil gets thick.



I don't think starters slow down, they either work or they don't. If it is cranking slow it's because the starter motor isn't getting full power. Take the truck and have the batteries load tested at Autozone or you local parts place. I thought my batteries were going south but they checked out fine, I just cleaned all the cables/terminals real good and so far no problems.



You mention one new battery? From what I have read batteries should be swapped out in pairs, otherwise the good battery will try to overcompensate for the weak battery and have a very short life.



Hope this helps.



Chris

 

[tony597fitter]

I have noticed running a good synthetic oil mkes it crank faster when cold.

What kind of batteries are they?

I would stay away from rebuilt starters on Ebay (just for warranty problems, shipping when it goes out).

This guy has some good stuff.

LarryB's Dodge starting problems solved here.

 

[Fordiesel69]

It was 16 F this morning and mine cranked fine. My batteries date 2002 so they are not all that good. It did not crank like summer but it did not sound slow either.



I would pull the starter and drop it off at a local shop. The brushes may still work fine but be too short, the commutater could be under spec or real dirty, and also the gear reduction could be bone dry. The wires that go to the fields to the brushes could also have high resistence. A starter can wear down which makes it draw more amps and crank over slow. The crappy mitsubishi starters used on my ford 6. 9L do not seem to last, the brush holder seems to warp and throw the brushes out of alignment, thus trashing the commutater. I don;t even overcrank it either. 15 sec or less.



Try having a local shop just refresh it rather than replacing it completely with somthing of possibly lesser quality.

 

[EKlem]

If you are sure that your batteries are good(only replacing one will put all the load on that one and wear it out quickly) and you have cleaned all your connections, it is likely that your starter needs to be rebuilt.

Synthetic oil does help a lot with cranking speed but even with dino, it should still turn over pretty quick at those temps.

 

[Woodenhead]

Hey Kmott. Sounds normal to me. My truck cranks over a little slower when it's cold out too. If it's -10C and it's starting without being plugged in your batteries can't be too bad. How many Ks on the truck? My starter has 385,000kms and is still working fine. If anything maybe it could use some new contacts from LarryBuck. Next time you need batteries get a pair of Group 31 batteries. I have Interstate Workaholic group 31s and had to trim the back of the battery tray to fit them but the extra juice is nice.



I used to live in Woodstock. My family still does, I was just there over the holidays. Strangely enough I miss the winters back home .



Mike

 

[KMott]

Thanks for the input. Today at -7 degrees celcius it seemed to crank over much better. Must have been colder than i thought yesterday. I think the starter is getting weak, but it still starts, so its not the end of the world. The truck had the odometer tampered with before i got it, but it most likely has 450-550,000 km, so it may be getting time for a rebuild or replacement.

Both of my batteries (energized 875cca i think) were new one year ago. One failed and was replaced under warranty. That is the only reason why i replaced only one. I had the starter apart this past summer, and replaced the contacts and plunger with larry b's, the brushes didn't look to be very worn so i didnt replace them, but as you said, the starter could just be worn.



Woodenhead- i also lived in Woodstock up until a couple years ago. Everyone i know is from that area.

Thanks again, kevin m.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Some electrical "experts" may disagree, but the way the cabling is setup, you technically have a primary and secondary battery, it just happens this way as a result of the voltage drop. One battery WILL wear faster than the other. In the 3 sets of batteries I replaced in my fords, one by the passenger fender was always bad, and the other just barly passed. I started rotating my batteries before winter every year. I am already on my 4th year on my ford, whereas on the 3rd winter it would always leave me stranded, so I think it helps and from what I have read, you can get 1-2 extra years by rotating.



Sombody with some electrical background may be able to explain why this is the case.