Slow Cranking

[justincollier]

I have been having a cranking issue with my 1996 PSD, and am looking for some solutions. I noticed slow cranking this winter. I knew the batteries were weak, and it was a rather cold winter in St. Louis. I thought the problem would be solved when I replaced the batteries about 4 months ago. Unfortunately, the problem has persisted, even though the outdoor temperature has begun to rise. This morning the temperature was about 55 degrees. I turned the accessories on, waited about 5 seconds for the "wait to start" to disappear, and started cranking. It cranked, slowly, for about 3 seconds. I turned the accessories off, waited a second, and tried again. It cranked much faster, and started right up. I bought the truck about 9 months ago, and the previous owner told me that he had replaced the glow plugs about a year and a half earlier. However, I did not ask, and he did not say, anything about the relays.

Thanks in advance, Justin.

[TurboSevenThree]

You should wait longer. Like 15-35 second and see if that makes it bust off. 55 isn't THAT warm, if you're only letting the glowplugs go for 5 seconds and the batteries are weak ... yeah it's not gonna wanna start lol

[HunterJ]

I cycle my wait to start light twice for atleast 7seconds each time it seems to help.

[TurboSevenThree]

What I do is probably anal but
If it's over 60 i just wait til the pump goes off (bout 35 seconds) once.
When it's 40-60 degrees i cycle 'em on once for about 35 seconds (wait for tick of fuel pump stopping) then cycle 'em again til the wait to start light goes out.
If it's 30-40 degrees i do two full 35 second cycles.
In the 20's and i'll do 3 full cycles
Below 10 and i might do 4 cycles

That's all if it is unplugged. Plugged in for 1.5 to 3 hrs and i'll do the first one

That's just what I do. And it ALWAYS starts, without a problem.

[TurboSevenThree]

i just read your post more in depth and saw you changed the batteries. I think you should first try just waiting longer so the glowplugs stay on longer and see if that helps. You could also clean up your battery posts and cables (i did yesterday, they were nasty). If nothing helps and you are losing voltage overnight you might have some kind of parasitic draw, something staying on, like a light or something You could hook a voltmeter that reads amps or an ammeter to the batt posts and see what kind of amps are there (if alot of amps are being pulled from the cables when it is off you got a hunt on your hands) You can pull each fuse one at a time to pinpoint what is staying on, helps with a buddy.

Good luck, keep some jumpers with ya!

[TurboSevenThree]

Originally Posted by justincollier

I have been having a cranking issue with my 1996 PSD, and am looking for some solutions. I noticed slow cranking this winter. I knew the batteries were weak, and it was a rather cold winter in St. Louis. I thought the problem would be solved when I replaced the batteries about 4 months ago. Unfortunately, the problem has persisted, even though the outdoor temperature has begun to rise. This morning the temperature was about 55 degrees. I turned the accessories on, waited about 5 seconds for the "wait to start" to disappear, and started cranking. It cranked, slowly, for about 3 seconds. I turned the accessories off, waited a second, and tried again. It cranked much faster, and started right up. I bought the truck about 9 months ago, and the previous owner told me that he had replaced the glow plugs about a year and a half earlier. However, I did not ask, and he did not say, anything about the relays.

Thanks in advance, Justin.

What acc. were on?

[Diesel Monkey]

Take a look at the brushes inside the starter.

[stinky]

I had the same problem. Batteries were fine, cleaned terminals, replaced glow relay, nothing helped. What fixed it was a new starter. Eventhough it was still turning it was bad. Drew a lot of amps but didn't do it. Failed all tests on Autozones Test Center. When I got my new one there I saw an note. An oil leak on the rear engine seal may lead to premature starter failure. That is what I have. Now I have a lifetime warranty though... Starter was around $160 with $180 core charge!!

[Marty]

I'd suspect the batteries or the starter.

First I'd super clean the terminals inside and out and the posts. I had a similar problem before and that really helped.

If that doesn't work you can take the starter off pretty easily and take it to autozone or something and have it tested.

Stinky, wow on the starter price! My stepdad paid like 3 something for his! Good find!

[justincollier]

Thanks everyone for their input so far. I went to lunch this afternoon, about 60 degrees outside, "wait to start" went out after about 5 seconds, and the truck started right up. Whenever I start it, all the accessories are turned off, even the radio. When I replaced the batteries in January, I cleaned the terminals, so they should be OK. I thinking about this problem this afternoon, and thought I should share something that I omitted and always thought was normal, but maybe this is my problem. Whenever I start the truck, I have to wait about 30 seconds for the voltmeter to reach the middle of the normal range. Is it possible that the truck is only starting with one battery?