Archived 98.5 24v won't start...

[stvntylr]

My 2nd gen 98.5 24v won't crank starter fast enough to start today. It has been marginal and getting slowly worse as time goes by. I thought it was battery issues as they were 5 years old, so I put a new one in last week and it did much better until this morning. It cranked, but turned too slow to start (it has always started on the first turnover before). Let it turn over 3 to 5 times before I stopped for fear of burning up a cable or something. I removed the posts, cleaned them, threw the charger on the new battery just for kicks, and still no start.

One thing I noticed that I never noticed before (could be because it always started before) was that after an unsuccessful attempt to start I could hear a continuous "whirring" noise coming from somewhere in the lower part of the engine compartment. It was definitely something with power to it because it went on continuously for 30 seconds to a minute, even after I removed the keys, and then abruptly shuts off. Is this likely a starter problem? How often do the starters go out on these 2nd gens?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[DonFitzwater]

Sounds like it's starter time!

 

[JR]

So you replaced only one battery?

The whirring noise you hear is the lift pump running, it receives power after the starter is engaged and will run for approximately 30 seconds before shutting off.

 

[SAndreasen]

Whirring noise could easily be the starter to if it's been getting slower and slower mine did the same thing eventually the soleniod stuck and it was trying run the starter but it woldnt replaced the starter and fixed it . As easy as it is to pull the starter you could pull it and have it checked . Another thing you can do is run a jumper cabel from the hot post of the battery down to the starter main terminal and see if starts better that will give you an idea if it's a bad cable .

 

[BigDaddy]

How are you making out with this problem?

Batteries should be replaced in pairs. One so so battery will drag the new one down.

Using the jumper cable to check the main starter cable is an excellent suggestion. I was having intermittent starting problems on my 99 and the crimp at the ring terminal where it attaches to the starter was bad. It was corroded and pulled out with slight pulling.

 

[mweiman]

One thing to be aware of if you get the starter problem resolved is that your lift pump should be running after bumping the starter. Like they said you should hear it buzz or whirr for a couple seconds at key on and 25 seconds after bumping the starter over. You may have an issue besides the slow cranking over. Or possibly a wire did not get hooked up when you replaced the battery.
I would agree with the other comments, replace batteries in pairs as they will only be as good as the weakest battery. Verify all cables and connections are good including grounds and cables from passenger side battery.
Matt

 

[GAmes]

I'm surprised that no one suggested a set of new contacts. The original starter will last well over 500k with these, at least mine did.
http://www.genosgarage.com/STARTER-SOLENOID-REBUILD-KIT-89-06/productinfo/LB-R90SS/

 

[Cosmo]

New contacts, possibly clean out all the crud.