2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission slow cranking driving me nut!!

[KDoerr]

Good Day all the last few morning went to start the truck and it just cranked slow and that was it. Put the Batter charger on and it fired up. So then I check the next day the volt to see what the batteries volts are and it was at 12. 5 volts good right. well then went to start and the same thing. Put the batter charger on and it fired up.



So what do you all think is going on?



I thought I'm losing power some where in the truck over night but I still have the same volts in the morning so thats not it.



I have 2 new batteries not that.



Could it be the starter???



Thanks for the help

Keith

 

[CSkal]

What is the voltage at the batteries when the truck is running? Maybe you have a weak alternator? I think the voltage at the batteries when the truck is running should be between 14. 1 and 14. 7 at idle.

 

[steved]

Could be the contacts in the starter... I'd be looking at the electrical connections to the starter, then finally consider replacing the starter itself...



steved

 

[cksh8me]

Could be cold out and your heaters are sucking down a weak battery



Good luck

 

[Batphreak]

You live in Alberta, as in Canadia? What kind of temp is it? Guessing -10 of something when you're starting? That cold just about anything is gunna crank slow. You got the block heater plugged in?

 

[brn2fsh]

Check the voltage at your batteries when the truck is running as stated earlier. Should be over 14 volts.



This same thing happened to me. Worn burshes in the alternator were resulting in "hit or miss" charging and causing my batteries to slowly degrade. The truck would crank slow on cold mornings and sometimes would not start. When I jumped the truck with another vehicle it would crank fast and start right up.



I had the alternator rebuilt and my problems have been cured. Also make sure your battery terminals are clean and connections are tight.

 

[DNewell]

I would have the batteries tested to ensure that the amperage is still good. You say new batteries, but there are times when new batteries are junk. Voltage doesn't mean a thing off of the batteries as the batteries could read 12. 5v, but amps may be way low. The advice of checking the voltage when running is a good thing. I'm not too familiar with the starters, but that could also be a problem. If you're not plugging it in, and it's cold out, that would cause an issue. Grid heaters suck up a lot of amperage, which can cause low amperage to the starter. What kind of batteries did you purchase? Are they rated high for the CCA(cold cranking amps)?

 

[WBusa]

I incline to suspect your batteries, not your starter; when starter contacts are bad it just don't turn over, period. It is battery AMPS what counts, not volts. Old batteries = low amps, even at full volts. Buy a pair of new Optimas, and never worry about batteries again.

 

[KDoerr]

Good Day. The amps on the batteries are good and when I'm cranking the volts drop to 6 and when I stop cranking it jumps up to 12. 5 volts. But if I crank it two or three time it will fire. When it is running the volts are 14. 5 and thats right after it is done circulating. Yes I live in Alberta Canada And the temp is around -15 to -20 degrees Celsius and at -5 I will plug it in. The block heater is working as well as the battier blankets.



The thing is I don't know if it is the grid heaters or the contacts in the starter.



The cheapest starter I found will run around $1000. 00 for a reman.



Thanks for the information and keep the ideas coming.



Thanks Keith

 

[BLassiter]

This has probably been said but are you checking the batteries without them plugged into serious, I had one weak battery that was causing slow cranking issues and you would never tell until you take the batteries out of series and check each one individually.

 

[steved]

Batteries in "good" condition will slowly fall in voltage, not drop to 6 volts...



Sounds like either one or both batteries are bad... I agree with these guys...



steved

 

[PC12Driver]

Split the batteries (you just need to take the negative cable off of one) and test them again. And you'll want to use a battery tester (to put a load on it), not just a multimeter. A battery with dead cells could still show up with 12v+, but as soon as a load is applied it will drop waaay down.



If you don't have a battery tester that applies a load, take the negative off of one battery and try to start the truck. If there isn't a change, put that cable back on and remove the negative on the other side and try to start it again. I bet you'll find one battery that won't even turn the truck over.

 

[KDoerr]

Well I found the problem. The batterie on the passenger side had a small crack in it and the corrosion was killing the batteries of the truck.



So all a big thanks for the information



thanks Keith

 

[DNewell]

Yup, that would probably be the cause.

 

[Ramtuf1]

I have similar problem. Twice now I have gone to start the truck and very low cranking speed so truck won't start. (Not really that cold either /30 - 35 deg) Batteries are both new as of February 06. I took both of them out and took them back to auto store where they charged and applied load test. Both compared the same as a new one off the shelf.



This doesn't happen every time I go to start the truck. Took a test of current drain on batteries when truck turned off and only 0. 15 amps which is nothing. If I turn on lamp under hood, then about 1 amp. Charging voltage when running is over 14 volts and no fluctuations in meter. Battery terminals are clean as whistle but cleaned again just after reinstalling batteries.



Wondering it there is some sort of relay or load that might be intermittently hanging up when I walk away from truck and lock doors with remote. Sometimes I can start truck after 1 week sitting and then sometimes won't start next day. This truck has never had starting problems until just this last month.



Any suggestions??

 

[KDoerr]

try some contacts for the starter. I did that and it help but the problem that I had was the Batteries. the Passenger side had a small hole and it would drain over night.



Good luck



Keith

 

[KCanepari]

it's the batteries or connection on battery posts garranteed, Don't replace the starter. the voltage should not drop below 10 volts while cranking!

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I have similar problem. Twice now I have gone to start the truck and very low cranking speed so truck won't start. (Not really that cold either /30 - 35 deg) Batteries are both new as of February 06. I took both of them out and took them back to auto store where they charged and applied load test. Both compared the same as a new one off the shelf.

Ramtuf1 I had intermittent very slow cranking on my '96 with good, strong batteries. Watch your volt meter next time it happens. If the voltage quickly drops down to near 8 volts then I would suspect your starter. That's what mine ended up being, the starter was shot. I had put in the Larry B contacts a few months before so it wasn't that, just time for the starter to expire.



Vaughn