starting problems

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Dec 4, 2005 | 05:56 PM

86302

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Joined: Dec 2004

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starting problems

My 86 f150 is doing something very strange. It has a 302 motor in it. I only drive it a few times a week max to deliver wood. When you first go to start it up, it starts fine. doesnt crank alot or anything. After you drive somewhere, and get it warmed up, you go to start and it turns over reallly slow. if you keep turning the key on and off, it will eventually pick up and start. What could this be?

Dec 4, 2005 | 06:06 PM

scottddove

More Turbo

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 683

Likes: 6

From: North Georgia

I had this happen to me on a mustang I have I replaced it with a remanufactured one and it did the same thing in a month or so. I fixed it by making a heat sheild for the starter out of a piece of sheet metal. The engine was heating up the starter and it did not want to turn. scott

Dec 4, 2005 | 06:33 PM

amish77

Cargo Master

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 2,148

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From: Seneca, SC

could be the starter, and it also could be the alternator going on you. A good battery will "come back" for lack of a better term if you give in a couple of hours. When it's just been run and the alternator isn't charging very well, the battery will have a little trouble starting the truck. My suggestion is to measure the voltage with a multi-meter before and after starting the truck and see what you get. It should be 12 off, and 14 on, or thereabouts, if anything a little higher than those. If you get lower, say below 13.8, then it's the alternator. If you get the right numbers, then go starter. I only say this because a battery is a little easier to replace.

Dec 4, 2005 | 06:55 PM

86302

Thread Starter

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Yeah, that and i also put a new alternator on not too long ago.

Dec 4, 2005 | 11:41 PM

Bdox

Fleet Owner

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 28,609

Likes: 18

From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Quote:

Originally Posted by 86302

Check the engine ground. Clean up the contacts at both end of both battery cables. When it won't crank properly, use a jumper cable from the neg battery terminal to the engine and try it again. Easy test. Once your are positive about the negative, take a negative look at the positive. Clean them all up really well before you go to spending your hard earned cash!! Be critial looking at the cables. Do they have corrosion inside the insulation? Change them. Another free test: When the engine is cranking slowly for ten or fifteen seconds, pop the hood and run around an feel the battery cables and connections for heat! If there are hot spots, that's trouble. Corrosion, high resistance or undersized cables.

Once it's all good there, if the problem persists, load test the battery or have it done. If the battery tests good, do a starter draw test. Pulling too many amps? Change the starter. Do it in that order, save money.