Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) hard starting 96

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Hey y'all--



I've read most of the hard starting threads and didn't find a situation quite like mine.



I've had my 96 for 4 months. Bought it from a friend, so I'm sure the upgrades & repairs he told me he performed were really done.



This problem popped up in the last couple of weeks. Truck seems to run fine other than this. I'm in the Tampa area, so the truck isn't seeing really cold weather. This happens whether temps are in the 40s or the 70s. First start in the morning, or after all day at work, it cranks fine for a second, then strains to crank, like a gasser with very advanced ignition timing. It cranks slowly for a few seconds, then starts. Once I didn't drive the truck for 2-3 days and it was much worse when I started it. Starts fine after the first start, until it's sat several hours again.



If I apply some throttle, it seems to start somewhat better, and then blows white smoke. I have never used throttle when starting before, so I don't know if it would have smoked before this problem started.



My mods are in my sig. Other pertinent info: 175k on truck, 6-month-old Interstate batteries, 25-60k on the following: LarryB starter mods, lift pump, injectors, short-block rebuild.



Battery cables are stock & in good condition. All connections I've checked so far are clean and tight. Fuel return hose looks and feels very good, has probably been replaced. I drained the water separator yesterday, as I do regularly.



This is a rust-free TX truck.



I will load-test the batteries today and check the starter amp draw.



Can anyone point me in the right direction for a fix?



thanks!

kevin

 

[fest3er]

... Can anyone point me in the right direction for a fix?



thanks!

kevin

Check the alternator. It may be draining the batteries. Next time you leave it off for a while and expect the problem to appear, remove the 140A alternator fuse from the PDC under the hood. If all is OK when next you start it (first reinstalling the fuse, of course), the alternator may well have a bad diode, allowing B+ to drain to GND. If you can check the current draw, the alternator should show effectively no draw between the battery wire and the alternator post it connects to when all is shut down and turned off.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Thanks, Neal! I load-tested the batteries and one of them came up a bit low on charge, so I charged it. Also tested the alternator, which was good (including Diode). Starter drew 160A, so that's good too. After charging, truck was still a bit hard to start. Will see what happens in the morning...

 

[wcjp]

Battery cables can have corrosion up underneath the insulation. Use jumper cables to bypass the stock cables for testing. Also, have you looked for an amp draw while at rest?



On my 96', I had problems with the fuel prefilter housing gaskets. The major problem was the soft line to the lift pump. It looked fine. Once removed I slit it open. I could see daylight through the hose.

 

[Bulldog440]

Had similar problem with my 96 3500.

I had the valves adjusted and the pump retimed

and now it starts much easier and instantly.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

I'm 180 miles into a fresh tank of fuel, and the problem seems to be gone... Haven't changed anything else, so maybe that was it... .



Thanks, y'all

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Update: This problem came and went randomly. Cold weather or hot, cold engine or hot, any fuel level, whatever. It'd do it once and go away for a month, or do it every start for a week, or anything in between.



I didn't throw a bunch of parts at it, but I did find and fix several minor issues. Also confirmed a bunch of possible problem areas were not the problem. Ultimately, nothing helped.



I had the batteries tested several times, and they always tested good. Finally, I left the lights on (I took out the warning buzzer )and killed them dead. Put in a set of new Die Hard Platinums (re-labeled Oddessys) and it has started perfectly for ~2 months.



It might be fixed...



kevin

 

[hsmith]

If it reoccurs, might want to look at the starter contacts.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Yup. It's supposed to have LarryB starter contacts already, but if it does come back, I'll have to pull the starter off and confirm they're upgraded and in good shape.



Thanks!

kevin

 

[edgeman]

I had the same issues with my 98, turned out to be the starter for me. Took me forever to figure it out without throwing parts at it. Its all good now.

 

[KBurgoyne]

my starter went all to hell a few months after i bought it. it would just click sometimes instead of engaging, and then had a really weak crank. turns out it was the factory starter that had probably been rebuilt half a dozen times, they tested it at auto zone and it kept tripping the breaker on their tester. a wire came loose on the inside and was grounding it internally. you might have early stages of the same problem. either that or the soleniod isnt fully engaging.