I have a 97 F-250 with 138,000 miles. It turns over very slow and starts hard even in 70 degree weather. I had the starter checked at Autozone and they said it was fine. I changed booth batteries with new. Has sat for 2 weeks and batteries still have 12.8 volts but got in it yesterday and again this morning and it turns over really slow and starts hard. Cleaned all battery cable connections when I pulled starter and put in new batteries. Do you think it is still the starter?

Sumper

 

Have you checked the negative cables? Trace them out to wherever they go. Is it an XLT with the remote key fob?

 

It is an XLT. Don't know if it is a remote.

Sumper

 

Sounds like the starter to me. They get to a certain point where they get tired and just can't crank it over like it should.

 

Mine did the same thing this last year. Tired starter. Still cranked, but not fast enough to get the truck going even when warm. Replaced the starter and I have had no problems since.

 

Mine is the same exact setup... starters will test good for these trucks at the parts stores basically no matter what.... its because they still are spinning... But 17.5:1 compression really does not help when a starter is weak... Put a new spinner in it...

 

Thanks for the help guys. I put in a new started like you guys suggested and it has never started so well. PROBLEM SOLVED.

 

Heck ya. That's what we like the hear!

 

Glad you got it fixed! Thanks for posting the resolution!

 

Turns over slow and starts hard? Sounds like me after a hard night. and all this time I've been using O2 from the torches and a big glass of OJ to fix the problem.