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1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  

Starting issue lately

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Old Jun 24, 2010 | 09:59 PM
  #16  
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From: Livoina,La
have you had batts checked
 
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Old Jun 24, 2010 | 10:28 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by fordpride
have you had batts checked
Haven't looked into it yet. been pretty busy lately. The batt gauge reads the same as always.
 
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Old Jun 24, 2010 | 11:13 PM
  #18  
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you say only on start up? Check batteries,its been warm lately and with temp. change i use to have promblem till i got my optima's,got tired of cleaning post's and batteries die with temp. change....just an idea.
 
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Old Jun 25, 2010 | 05:19 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by Iceburg97
you say only on start up? Check batteries,its been warm lately and with temp. change i use to have promblem till i got my optima's,got tired of cleaning post's and batteries die with temp. change....just an idea.
Yes sir, i will be checking later today. I think its either the batts or starter. It took an extra long crank this morning to get it started. Tach is right around 150ish rpms. But it sounds like it is winding really slow. I dont know if the starter is original or not but i think im gonna look into that.
 
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Old Jun 25, 2010 | 08:25 PM
  #20  
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X2 on the batteries and temp changes. Give them a good overnight charge and see if the situation improves. Good cheap test.
 
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Old Jul 22, 2010 | 08:47 PM
  #21  
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Ok guys, sorry ive been working alot lately. I still am having this starting issue. I have tested the batteries (seperately and in the truck), the alternator, and the starter. They all tested great. I start the truck in the morning around 4 and it starts just fine. I drive for a half hour and park it for 10-14 hours and then go to start it and it seems to crank slow and takes 4+ seconds to turn over. The starter tested great though. So i dont know what to attack next. Lend me your brains and give me a hand!
 
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Old Jul 22, 2010 | 09:19 PM
  #22  
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James, I had the same experience, cranking slow and taking awhile to start. I took the starter in and it tested fine. I said the heck with it and bought a new starter. I could not believe the difference in the speed of turning over with the new starter. Problem solved!
 
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Old Jul 22, 2010 | 09:43 PM
  #23  
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From: Monroe/Ellensburg, WA
Originally Posted by oldbird1965
James, I had the same experience, cranking slow and taking awhile to start. I took the starter in and it tested fine. I said the heck with it and bought a new starter. I could not believe the difference in the speed of turning over with the new starter. Problem solved!
Really? did you buy one of the high torque db starters? I am wondering if that will help, but i would hate to spend the money on it if mine is truly fine and its something else. I also am due for an oil change and that will be happening very shortly. But i know a starter doesnt cost much but its gonna come out of my injector fund.
 
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Old Jul 23, 2010 | 02:12 AM
  #24  
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Did you load test the batteries, each separately? Or just check the resting voltage?

Beyond that, +1 on the starter info above; those tests really don't say much about how the starter performs actually on the engine.

How are the main battery / starter cables and grounds, and connections?

Might also be worth checking the voltage drop on the starter relay. Or even try (MAKE SURE it's in PARK or NEUTRAL, parking brake ON) bypassing the starter relay with a bigeffin' jumper cable between the right-side battery positive post and the "downstream" post of the relay, just to see if that seems to make the starter spin the engine faster.
 
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Old Jul 23, 2010 | 04:22 AM
  #25  
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X3 on the starter if cables look ok
 
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Old Jul 23, 2010 | 06:18 AM
  #26  
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Ok, so it looks like its coming to be a starter thing. Madpogue, i just tested the batteries voltage which looked to be good, the starter was tested on the truck as i started it (good Oriellys had a meter and i had to buy some paint anyways, so i had them test it while i was there) They said the starter had plenty of cranking amps to start the truck. I bet i will go outside in 5 minutes to leave for work and the truck will start fairly quick. but around 6 tonight when it sits at work for 14 hours, it is going to sit there and take 4-5 seconds and a slow crank to get it to finally start. Now, my though is the starter as well. It just seems weird that sometimes it wants to start just fine and other times it cranks really slow and doesn't want to start. However i will try to get a test on the starter relay and see what happens there. Also, i did clean all the connections to the batteries and cables, no corrosion or anything and they all are making good contact.
 
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Old Jul 23, 2010 | 07:50 AM
  #27  
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James, No, I didn't get the high torque starter, I probably should have.
 
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