slow cranking, 93 KA24E

[ahardb0dy]

My 93 (KA, 5 speed) starts fine the first time, but if I stop and say run into a store and than go to start it, it will crank real slow and the volt gauge will go down to about 8 volts.

Battery is fairly new and over sized, alternator is putting out very close to 14 volts when no accessories are on, belt is tight, checked and tightened it today.

I replaced the connection at the positive battery terminal that goes to the starter, and the terminals are new and clean and tight.

Haven't looked at the starter end of the cable yet.

Any other things I should check?

Thanks

[LURK3R]

I think there is a big ground strap on the back of the engine (Might be Z24 I'm thinking of) and they tend to go bad and will cause it to do dumb stuff when it's warmed up. Otherwise I'd be making sure the starter is ground properly.

[ahardb0dy]

Today on the way home from work I stopped to get gas and when I went to start the truck it didn't the first time, second time it cranked slow but started. Started fine when I left work.

I think I need to re do the terminal on the large power wire that goes to the starter, the terminal is a little loose.

When I got home I shut it off and tried starting it a few times and it did start but it cranked real slow, and as I said previously the voltage gauge goes all the way down to 8.

I wasn't sure if the battery I have was the sealed type or the type you add water so I looked at a picture I had and it is the type that you can add water.

I added water to all the cells and started the truck. This time it started no problem, this was after the truck sat for about 2 hours.

I grabbed my multi meter and checked voltage at the battery to compare to what the volt gauge was showing, pretty close, more accurate on the meter as it is digital.

This is what I was getting, don't think it's a alternator or battery problem (stock alternator):

Engine running no accessories on 13.98 volts at battery
Engine off nothing on - 13.90 volts at battery
Engine running with high beams on (100 watt bulbs) - 13.78 volts at battery

after all that, when starting engine volt gauge in the truck only went down to about 10 volts and engine started right up, tried starting it 3 times, no problems.

Wonder if the cells being a little low could have caused this? Will find out tomorrow I guess.

[ahardb0dy]

Today after work, stopped to get gas, went to start the engine and it cranked really really slow, I was going to turn the key back off for a second but than it started, weird, maybe the starter is on the way out???

[Fanophins]

Probably the starter solenoid going bad.. In the old days you could buy just the solenoid but now it's the whole starter. You can take it to any part store and get it checked but you have to pull it out. As an electrician I always increase the wire size and make sure the ground is good while at it...Good Luck!

[Fanophins]

By the way if you have a flooded battery your supposed to only add distilled water that you can get at any grocery store. But if you had lead showing on any cell the battery is probably done. But any part store will check a battery for free..

[ahardb0dy]

I would replace the whole starter before just replacing the solenoid, especially if you have to pull the starter anyway.

Thinking of adding a second ground from the starter to the frame, I did that in my former pathfinder when I was having starter issues.

The battery looked slightly low on the water, I could not see any lead. I know it's supposed to be distilled water but didn't have any, used a bottle of bottled water.

I searched online last night and came across a guy with a frontier with a similar problem, someone suggested that he connect the ground from a jumper cable to the negative and the frame to see if it would help, the guy said it did, so in his case at least it must have been a ground issue. May have to try that out.

Thanks

[ahardb0dy]

Finally got outside to do something.

Added a 4 gauge ground wire from the lower starter bolt to the engine mount bolt on the frame. Cleaned the negative ground wire terminal at the battery.

Will see if the extra ground helps.

[cadillacdude1975]

i drive a tractor trailer. in the summer we do not shut the trucks off during our work hours. the starter is a big heat magnet. when the trucks run and run, the starter is soaking in all that heat and then it can take twice to three times the amperage to start a hot semi motor.

carry on gents.

[ahardb0dy]

will see if adding the extra ground helps, thanks