300 6 won't go
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,135
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From: Canada
300 6 won't go
i posted a question regarding this in the electical but i think it's more engine than electrical now
yesturday when i went to start my truck i turned the key and nothing. i waited a sec. turned it again and it just clicked repeadily. the thrid time it turned over but ever so slowly so i hgeld the key then it tunred slowly once and fired up. today same deal. even if i disconnect the battery it'll do this. if i drive the truck and part it for a hour or so nothing but overnight this seems to happen.
today i cleaned the ground connection on the block, and the pos and neg terminals. still same deal. so now what should i check or do? i have a marine battery in there now and a month ago my dad had a problem with it, nothing serious just a small fire, but the battery worked fine ever since then.
sorry for being so long
yesturday when i went to start my truck i turned the key and nothing. i waited a sec. turned it again and it just clicked repeadily. the thrid time it turned over but ever so slowly so i hgeld the key then it tunred slowly once and fired up. today same deal. even if i disconnect the battery it'll do this. if i drive the truck and part it for a hour or so nothing but overnight this seems to happen.
today i cleaned the ground connection on the block, and the pos and neg terminals. still same deal. so now what should i check or do? i have a marine battery in there now and a month ago my dad had a problem with it, nothing serious just a small fire, but the battery worked fine ever since then.
sorry for being so long
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 484
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From: St. Louis, MO USA
300 6 won't go
Alternator maybe? Mine had about the same problem last year, it was real slow starting up, until it would just click when i turned the key. Not even a jump would start it. called my mechanic, he towed it to his shop, my mom took me to school, came back home, and the mechanic said the alt had died and he had put a new one in. I hope thats not it, cause that cost a hefty amount of change.....might also look at the starter, maybe a wire corroded thru, or something like that.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 160
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From: East Freetown, MA
300 6 won't go
When you say a Marine Battery?? Do you mean a deep cycle? That is prob what is causing your problem. In a Deep cycle there are not enough cranking amps to turn the motor over correctly, I would get rid of that marine battery ASAP due to the fact that they don't charge like normal auto batteries, even if it is a Starting Marine battery the chemicals are different. It takes a different type of charge. You need to get an automotive battery with at least 900 COLD CRANKING amps. The best deal on them are believe it or not but at WalMart. Please get rid of the marine battery!!! And if it is the alternator it is easy enough to change shouldn't cost you more than 45 for a new alternator. Check the Magnetic field wire on the alternaor also sometimes they loosen up, also check to ensure the alternaor is grounded! Sometimes this connetion corrodes. But I would guess you burnt that battery right out and that is the problem.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,135
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From: Canada
300 6 won't go
it's a deep cylc emarine battery cause right now that's all i can afford and my old man my rite battery so he lent me his. im prolly gonbna get rid of that mariner. leave it for my future boat or w/e
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 160
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From: East Freetown, MA
300 6 won't go
Then that is definitely the problem you are describing!!! Not enough cranking amps is what is causing it. Umm the stock battery has like 750 cold cranking...its like 30 bucks at WalMart. But I would go for the heavy duty one.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 470
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300 6 won't go
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 06-Sep-02 AT 09:00 AM (EST)]You don't need 900CCA to start your 300. A 460 doesn't need 900CCA to start. Heck, at one point I had a dead battery so I used the stock panasonic battery out of a mitsu mirage (perhaps 350cca) and that worked fine.
I too have a 'marine battery' (Optima Yellow Top, which is the same as a blue top(different terminals)) and believe me, it works perfectly fine. Its a D34/78 and has a mere 550cca... And while it doesn't get to cold around here (-15F is about it) she fires right up on those mornings.
You say you don't have a problem when its warm? What do you mean by that? Do you mean that she will spin right back up again? If so, replace your battery (have someone like autozone check it to make sure first, its free).
-=Whittey=-
[edit] BTW, According to Exide, factory (for 1978) was 350cca for AT, 290 for MT and 475 was an option. For 1986 it was 380cca w/no optional and for 1987+ it was 650 w/850 as optional. Battery sizes were 65 for '87+, 62 for '86 and 22F for '78.
I too have a 'marine battery' (Optima Yellow Top, which is the same as a blue top(different terminals)) and believe me, it works perfectly fine. Its a D34/78 and has a mere 550cca... And while it doesn't get to cold around here (-15F is about it) she fires right up on those mornings.
You say you don't have a problem when its warm? What do you mean by that? Do you mean that she will spin right back up again? If so, replace your battery (have someone like autozone check it to make sure first, its free).
-=Whittey=-
[edit] BTW, According to Exide, factory (for 1978) was 350cca for AT, 290 for MT and 475 was an option. For 1986 it was 380cca w/no optional and for 1987+ it was 650 w/850 as optional. Battery sizes were 65 for '87+, 62 for '86 and 22F for '78.
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Cargo Master
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,146
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From: Colorado
300 6 won't go
Sure sounds like a bad battery, only holds a charge for a short period. As per the previous advice, have it checked for free at Checkers , Autozone, where ever you can get it done. You are at NO obligation to purchase your battery from them. Problem being is if you drive your truck there, and then it won't start again........
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 160
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From: East Freetown, MA
300 6 won't go
LMAO well it sure helps to have a 900 CCA battery, I guess that is why I don't run into problems. Actually I take that back mine is 1100 I spent the extra bucks. Oh and you still need the CA to turn the engine even over once. Like I said in the beginning anyways "Marine Deep Cycle Batteries" are for a certian purpose they do not and will not replace starting batteries the whole charging priniples are different. IE....... different chemicals in the batteries. Well I am glad I can just put in my two cents, and get a good chuckle from this.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,135
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From: Canada
300 6 won't go
but what puzzels me is i drove the truck for over 1 month with the marine battery with no problem. just recently this started, ever sicne i started sanding the truck down for a paintjob
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 160
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From: East Freetown, MA
300 6 won't go
That is what is next for mine, it takes a whole before those batteries break down like you are decribing. They do have a longer endurance being a deep cycle. Are you going todo the paint yourself? I gotta find someone. That is one thing i won't do unless I really learn how to do it. It seems way to complicated!!!!
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,135
Likes: 0
From: Canada
300 6 won't go
me and my friend are doing the paint
see the thinbg that puzzles me about this is if i start it or at leat turn the engine once without having it engauge it'll start later no probl. if i leave it it won't go
stupid truck!
see the thinbg that puzzles me about this is if i start it or at leat turn the engine once without having it engauge it'll start later no probl. if i leave it it won't go
stupid truck!
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
300 6 won't go
Hey i work at WalMart in the Tire Lube Express. But how old is your cylonide. The part that the positive cable from you battery connects to. Im running on my third one now. Heck i keep a spare one in my tool box. they are cheep and easy to fix. Try that first and see it if it helps.