Hey fellas, I've got an issue with my truck being hard to start, or either not starting at all, after it has been driven several miles and the engine is good and hot. If I switch it off to go into a store or something, it will either be very slow to turn over or it want turn over at all depending on how long it has been driven. If I let it set for a while (10 minutes or so), the engine will turn over slow and she'll fire off. If it sets for several hours, it'll crank like normal. I've had the battery checked and it is good. I haven't done anything else to it. I have noticed some corrosion on the positive battery cable (rusted wire strands) and I'll clean that off, but I don't think its enough to cause the problem. The problem is definitely heat related as it will only do this on a hot engine and will be fine after it cools off a little while. Would appreciate your thoughts on what to look for. Thanks.
87Dodgeman
12-31-2008, 10:17 AM
I had the same problem when I first got my truck. Turns out the engine to firewall ground strap wasn't connected. Once I hooked it up the problem went away.
DiverDwnPowrRam
12-31-2008, 12:27 PM
grounding strap is one way to go but i have found most likely it is because the heater hoses..or a hot hose...is on the fuel line.
threetwos
12-31-2008, 01:00 PM
Sounds like it's an electrical issue. I would load test the battery and try a Amperage draw test on the starter motor. Here's an easy test you can do for free. Turn on the headlights, crank the engine, does the headlights dim considerably while cranking? if so, there is too much resisitance in the starter circuit. They should barley dim if normal.
87Dodgeman
12-31-2008, 01:20 PM
In my experience slow cranking when hot is an electrical issue.
Fuel issues (vapor lock related) usually don't change the cranking speed, the engine just doesn't 'catch' when turning over because it's flooded.
4404spd
12-31-2008, 02:22 PM
Im putting my money on a defective starter.
doodlebug
12-31-2008, 03:39 PM
Could a bad voltage regulator possibly cause this? I ask because I've noticed the lights will sometime dim at night as I'm driving. They'll dim down for just a second or two and then come right back up to normal brightness. Could the starter also cause the dimming light issue? Thanks.
threetwos
12-31-2008, 03:50 PM
Yes to both questions but the starter circuit is enabled at the ignition switch. The voltage regulator controls the charging circuit to the alternator field. It sounds like an electrical problem, either the starter, battery, voltage regulator or wiring. I would test all, starting with the battery. Load test it.
doodlebug
12-31-2008, 06:00 PM
Ok, thanks. I'll check these things out and try to narrow it down.
buck99
12-31-2008, 07:00 PM
Im putting my money on a defective starter.
I'm voting for the starter too... :)
volaredon
12-31-2008, 07:29 PM
X3 on bad starter
yogibare143
01-01-2009, 06:14 PM
Make sure you have good ground between engine and battery.
