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Hi all,<br /><br />I have a 2002 excursion with the 7.3, starter is original - with 200k on it. It is now a 2nd vehicle and drive once every two weeks roughly. Today I got in and started it up and drove to work, about 30 minutes. Parked and went inside and came back out 15 minutes later and nothing when I turn the key. Just a low volume slight buzz, no evidence of cranking. batteries were showing 12.04 volts with cheap multimeter. Got it home and pulled the started (I realize it could be a bad ground - but I also think that the drive in would have shaken that connection to be "better").<br />I did notice the bottom bolt was loose, meaning I could turn it with fingers. Below are two pics that show the wear on the starter gear and the depth of engagement. Is this normal or a weak starter?
That depth is fully engaged and entirely satisfactory. I tell my wife that too.
12.04 V at rest is pretty low. Voltage on crank would paint a better picture. Might be time for batteries, replace in pairs for best results.
Starter bolts getting loose is fairly common, some thread lock and a firm hand will fix it.
Thanks for the reply. I think I have two issues going on. One was the loose bolt and the lovely oil leak coating everything and that might have prevented good ground contact. The other is where I think you are right on the low voltage. I think a parasitic drain is another culprit. Since I don't drive the truck daily anymore, I believe my voltage is getting just low enough to maybe start it once and that is it. When I drove it daily, it was a non-issue since it was charging. I will also have to check my alternator output also because after that 30 minute drive you would have thought it would have charged the batteries enough for another start (especially only after 15 minutes).
Since my original post I went back out and pulled the starter again and reinstalled. Fired right up! Turned it off and then remembered I saw a split in the battery wire casing when I pulled the starter originally. So I pulled it down and sealed that up. Put it back in and nothing! WTF?!?!?
At this point it was dark and starting to rain so I called it. I think maybe now my voltage is too low to start it again. So I am going to check that this morning and throw the truck on the charger for a while and see what happens. Sigh....I hate electrical....
Just went out and it started! Not sure what is going on, maybe sitting overnight it had just enough to start? Right after I started it, went into the garage, got the multimeter, popped the hood and the voltage at one of the batteries was 12.3. I then tested the back of the alternator and it was at 13.3. Then went back to the battery and it matched.
So my theory is that 1) I have a parasitic drain that is affecting me more since it is not a daily driver. 2) It has enough to start one time 3) I was unlucky in that maybe a bad ground in combination of the low voltage in the office parking lot is what caused a no start yesterday. (thinking of the parking lot, I was parked on a decent slope pointing in a direction with the front of the truck downhill - meaning the starter could have "inched" out a fraction away from the bellhousing to not make contact)
Sheesh.....
13.3 charging volts is low, should be 14+-. Good batteries will show about 12.9 volts before starting after sitting overnight if your alternator is charging properly. Check all the battery terminals for tightness, corrosion, etc. Check the acid levels in your batteries unless they are maintenance free.
This plug in volt meter will tell you the:
1) Beginning voltage, key off, batts should be over 12.5v
2) key on, voltage drop, ,GPR comes on. voltage drop should be around to 11.5v
3) Key on and engaged to starter, Glow Plugs on, voltage drop to above 10.5v.... if voltage drops below 10.5v, truck may not/will not start.
4) Truck starts, Glow Plugs still on, voltage will be around 11.5v...
5) Truck running, Glow Pugs turn off.... voltage will Slowly rise to the output of the Alternator... which should be around Above 14.3v
If Any of these variables are different it will narrow the area(s) of where to look for problems. Batteries…. Glow Plugs/Glow Plug Relay.... Starter...Alternator... etc.
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