Okay, for starters I did a search and couldn't come up with my exact problem. My truck became hard to start, and now won't start at all. It's been cold, I plugged in my block heater, my batteries are at 12 volts each. It turns but doesn't turn over, and it acts like the battery is dying. But still reads 12 volts. My battery cables look pretty rough, could this be the problem? or could this be the starter? I plan on replacing the battery cables, should I get a starter rebuild kit or just get a new starter. Any advice is greatly apprecieated.

Thanks

Gary

 

a charged battery should read 12.8 volts static charge, any less than that is considered to be discharged. It does not take much for a battery to be "dead" when its fighting cold weather, cold oil, etc.
Best thing to do, is disconnect the batteries and load test them, to see what they are doing. I would tend to think you will find your problem there.

Good plan on new battery cables. 2/0 welding cable makes for about the best battery cable you can buy. A little pricey, but you only do it once.

Good luck

 

Sounds like dead batteries. But mine died all at once and wouldn't even spin the starter. That all depends on the failure mode that kills the batteries. If they're only reading 12 volts, they're likely dead.

 

Get your batteries load tested, and get your alternator checked out too. It may be why they are dead. Get another vehicle hooked up to your truck, and try starting it then. If it starts easier, then the likely culprit is dead batteries, and now you need to find out why. If its still hard to start, then start looking at the cables and starter. I had this issue earlier in the fall, turned out my starter was hooped, found out after buying two new batteries and a couple days trying to find a place that would so some crimp on ends on cables.

When it gets cold out, synthetic is a good thing to run. Much easier to turn over when its cold. 15w40 gets pretty thick when its -20. 0w40 or 5w40 is what I run, makes it crank a lot faster in the winter.

 

I charged the batteries, they were low, and it eventually started, it still seems like it's not starting as easy as it should, I tried jump starting it the other night with no luck. I am going to replace the battery cables anyways, I still think the starter may be the culprit though! Thanks for the replies, you learn something every day. I had no idea a 12 volt battery was fully charged around 12.8.

Again thanks to all, at least I was able to drive it today, we'll see how it goes in the morning after sitting all night with the low in the high 20's.

Gary

 

Okay, well I'm still without a truck, I had the batteries charged and load tested and they checked good, I also took in the starter and it checked good also. So I looked closer at my battery cables and I had corrosion going deep into the shrink wrap. I ordered some new cables from custom battery cables, paid last monday (quite expensive in my opinion) and haven't heard a word from this guy. Does anyone know where I can get better than stock cables or should I make my own? I have access to a good crimper at work (for aircraft batteries)

Thanks

Gary

 

Get some 1/0 welding cable and make your own. You can get those military style clamps, so you can run all your cables with eyelets crimped on the end. The ends are something like $10/pair or so. I've seen them posted here before. Thats the way I'm gonna when its time to replace the rest of my cables. Trying to find the factory crimp on clamps that will hold more than 1 wire was impossible.

 

I would like to hear more about those military style clamps! "whothewhatnow??"

 

Go to Ebay and type in "military battery clamp". One guy usually has a group of 4 ea. at a reasonable price. They have a wing nut to tighten a clamp to.

 

So I installed my new battery cables and the truck starts right up, however, it takes longer and longer each time I start it. I am driving it in between starts and the voltage on the batteries is 12.8 and 12.9 after running so I know the altenator is working, I checked the batteries and they checked good under a load, I had the starter checked and it checked good. Once it's running it runs just fine, I'm at a loss any ideas why its hard to start?

 

Pull your starter and check the Contactors. You may have one side burnt like the photo below. If they look like this, get some new ones or if they are not available, reverse the two and put it back together. It will work, for awhile until you can get some.

There is a site on the web Larry B's or something like that you can order them from. Price is right.

Dave

 

If they are burnt like that would the starter still sound normal but just not start? ot os starting it just doesn't start like it should, I get dangerously close to running the batteries down.

 

The starter will turn slow or it will click just like the batteries are getting close to dieing. Those contactors came out of my Son's Cummins truck. He thought it was batteries and cables and all that stuff. I suggested he check them. He finally pulled the starter and saw the problem. Sent me the picture.

Dave

 

Here is what mine looked like.



Better yet just replace them. They are bad by now.

 

Thanks, just ordered a repair kit, I hope this works, it's gettin really old not being able to use my truck.