Archived Weak Starter Motor?

[PWelsh]

Truck is at dealers. He said I need a new starter motor (about $400). My symptoms: When below 40*F the engine requires 9 to 11 compression strokes to start. Used to start on 2 or 3 strokes. If I cycle the heater manifold 2 or 3 times it starts better. I have new batteries. Seems to turn over fine to me. The truck is a 1994 with 152K miles. All connections are clean on the batteries. Do you think I need the new starter?

Paul Welsh

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Check the starter contacts first. Very common problem - https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109863

 

[PWelsh]

If the starter still turns the motor over could the problem still be caused by bad starter contacts. Or would bad contacts slow the starter RPM and cause slow starts?

 

[barbwire]

Just my $. 02. Just because the batteries are new, doesn't mean that they cannot be bad. It would be your cheapest fix to check them, "that is" if they were proven to be bad. If one or both of them had a bad cell, that could cause the starter to turn slower. Of course I am telling you something that you already know.

 

[Joe G.]

If the starter contacts are burnt pretty bad they may not be making a good contact.

 

[lcoblentz]

If I read correctly, the starter motor is engaging and turning the motor over, it's just taking longer for the engine to fire. This does not sound like a starter motor problem to me. Sounds like the engine is losing prime or something. Check the fuel lines, particularly the return line for any cracking or leaks. When was the fuel filter last changed? Is the lift pump good, i. e. , no leaks around the rubber boot on the side of the block?

 

[B.G. Smith]

Also could be the grid heater system (solenoids, heaters), sounds like the starter is just having to turn the engine more to generate heat in the cylinders before it starts. bg

 

[PWelsh]

I want to thank everyone for all their inputs. The guy that repairs all the farm equiptment put a new starter on it today and said it's now starting perfect. He will keep it over night and test it in the morning. Once again, thanks so much for your inputs.

Paul Welsh