Slow starting

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Mar 29, 2010 | 10:09 PM

brutus_jr

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Slow starting

My apologies if this is an old problem, but I searched the forum and didn't come up with anything that appears to match my problem...

My truck is a 1999 F250 SD with the 7.3L turbo diesel (Navistar) Engine. Mileage is under 150K...

Last month, the truck became hard starting but the batteries were failing so I had them replaced (two Armor Plate 7000). But the problem persists. It eventually starts, but turns over slow/sluggishly and in some cases takes multiple tries before it hits.

Anyone here know if the above batteries are of the proper rating? It's always been slightly slow to start, but I don't recall this being such a problem with the old batteries...

Thanks.

Mar 29, 2010 | 10:36 PM

clintbonnie

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From: Ardenvoir, Washington

Does the engine start hard and slow after the engine is up to temp ? If so, you might consider switching to 5w40 syn oil such as Rotella .. or your starter might be going bad.. make sure all the connections are clean and tight..

Mar 30, 2010 | 08:55 AM

brian42

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From: San Diego, CA

I have a slow starting issue too and it seems to be very similar to yours. I replaced my batteries and that cured it for awhile. As long as your batteries add up to 1500cca you should be fine. These beasts take a LOT of juice to crank over. Between the fuel pump, glow plugs and starter that's a lot of amps to start up.

I would check your ground connections to make sure that they are solid and not corroded. Also, climb under your truck and make sure that your starter is mounted solidly. A lot of people (including myself) have had issues with the starter bolts backing themselves out so I would check that. Since you are pushing 150K, your starter might be nearing the end of it's life. I have a DB Electrical starter sitting in my garage waiting to go in and hopefully that fixes my problem (I had an oil leak to fix first). I have heard more good things than bad about their high output starters.

That's about all I can think of. Hopefully others will chime in with more ideas...

Mar 30, 2010 | 08:53 PM

brutus_jr

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Quote:

Originally Posted by clintbonnie

Once the engine fires, it really snaps to (even in the dead of winter)... It's just the windup to the punch that is sluggish. Almost like dead batteries, except with the new ones. I've noticed that mine never has started normally. A friend of mine has a truck identical to mine that maybe rolls over for a second before it takes off. Every other Ford Powerstroke I've ever heard start up is similar... Mine is more like 5 to 10 seconds of cranking before it goes.

I'll check the ground connection as well as the connection to the starter. I never considered the starter going bad, but now that it's been mentioned I start to think back to a couple of old Chevys I had back in the 1970's that would behave similarly...

Mar 30, 2010 | 09:14 PM

WilsonTaylor

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From: Van Alstyne, TX

I had a similar issue a little over a year ago. I too thought it was the batteries and replaced them. It seemed to get somewhat better temporarily and then my starter went out. When I got the new one, I could not believe how much faster the engine cranked. The starter was the problem all along. You might pull the starter and take it in to a parts house that can test it.

Wilson

Apr 1, 2010 | 01:06 AM

brutus_jr

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Quote:

Originally Posted by brutus_jr

Thanks to all that replied. I found the problem, and I must say I'm less than impressed with the service where I purchased the batteries...but that's something I'll be taking up with the owner...

As it turns out the [brand new] batteries hadn't been checked for liquid level before installation. Inspection revealed that they were both low (one more so than the other). After adding about 4 cups (~ 2 per battery!) of distilled/demineralized water and charging for approximately 20 minutes, I jumped in and hit the starter. It's still not great (when compared to other trucks I've observed), but it now starts like it used to... The starter cranks the engine over more aggressively.

That said, I'll still be checking the starter connection and mounting bolts, etc., but at least for now it starts without acting like the batteries are half dead.

Apr 1, 2010 | 01:17 AM

clintbonnie

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From: Ardenvoir, Washington

Wow... that is amazing. ! If the batteries were new, they should had acid, not water added.. But, i have a feeling you are going get "new" batteries soon after talking to the owner where you purchased them...