battery problem or starter again?

[97powerstroker]

awhile back i was having problems with my truck crankins slow,on the first start of the day,for weeks i searched and then just replaced the starter,cranked great,then a fuel pump died on me and it took alot of cranking to prime the lines again,and it seems since then it has been doing the same thing in the mornings,or once the truck has been sitting for 6 or 8 hours,batterys are old but i just dont know.can you hurt a starter like that,will it have those symptoms,or maybe i have a little draw somewhere,what are some opinions on it?

[sikktruk01]

I'd suggest having the battery's load tested, perform a starter draw test, if you don't find anything with either of those test try a voltage drop test on the battery cables (pos & neg)

[97powerstroker]

Originally Posted by sikktruk01

I'd suggest having the battery's load tested, perform a starter draw test, if you don't find anything with either of those test try a voltage drop test on the battery cables (pos & neg)

will an autozone type store do all of those tests,or can i do any of them?

[sikktruk01]

if you don't have the experience or the tools for these test I would suggest finding a reputable shop that has experience with the ford's and let them do it. just be sure to give them a very descriptive explanation of the symptoms (it helps) or just request them to do these test, if they look at you kinda funny just get in your truck and head out. good luck and keep me posted on the results.

[z250kid]

yea autozone does the test i dont trust it cause i my alternator was going like bad and my battiers never had a 100% charge so it wouldnt start the starter would just click click
so they told me everything was okay. I wasnt satisfied so replaced the batteires great for a week then same thing replace the altenator and its fine ever since. know on wood lol
what is it putting out at an idle?

[nicho]

The two certainly aren't mutually exclusive.

Too low of a voltage will kill a starter faster than you can say pita.

Too high of a draw from the starter from a fault will kill a battery faster than you can say "f***".

[97powerstroker]

i have a mulitimeter,how do i check the alternator?isnt there only like two small wires coming off of it?ive suspected the alternator but it seems they dloely die while its sitting,while im driving it,i can shut it own,then crank it back up and it cranks fine,so that must mean the slt is charging properly right?

[97powerstroker]

well i some tests,cold both batts have over 12v when truck is runnung alternator is putting out over 14v,wnt down to the starter to see what kind of voltage is down there on tap and it was 14v also.i also noticed that the small power wire going to the starter was rubbing on the cross member and was showing exposed wire.not much but it was there,didnt seem like it would affect anything so u just tucked it back into the plastic wiring holder or whatever its called,it fell out.other then that,i dont know.i cant afford another starter but i just dont see why this is happening.new starter cranked great till the fuel pump went and i did alot of cranking to prime the system again,would that screw a starter up?i never cranked for more then 15 seconds at a time.

[nsrchofpwr]

Originally Posted by 97powerstroker

well i some tests,cold both batts have over 12v when truck is runnung alternator is putting out over 14v,wnt down to the starter to see what kind of voltage is down there on tap and it was 14v also.i also noticed that the small power wire going to the starter was rubbing on the cross member and was showing exposed wire.not much but it was there,didnt seem like it would affect anything so u just tucked it back into the plastic wiring holder or whatever its called,it fell out.other then that,i dont know.i cant afford another starter but i just dont see why this is happening.new starter cranked great till the fuel pump went and i did alot of cranking to prime the system again,would that screw a starter up?i never cranked for more then 15 seconds at a time.

i am in jacksonville. where are you? maybe i can help.

[97powerstroker]

im in englwood,prolly around 4 hours from ya.