I have had issue's with this thing rolling over when its cold out. below 32 degrees. This all started about 5 years ago. Bought two new carquest battery's. worked good for about six months then the check gauge light was coming on again when heating grids were running after start up. I'd say about a year into those batterys I did notice maybe it rolling over a slit bit slower. At the same time the contact in the starter was going bad so I replace the starter with carquest rebuild. Then It rolled over slower yet but at a exceptable level. Then about two year later It really was rolling slow and check gauge light was staying on more yet. Replace batterys about a year ago with two large interstate batterys. that helped with rolling and check gauge light, but chould tell still not right. NOw this year the damnd the won't hardly roll over and almost not start. The truck does not get driven much. this last time I had the charger on it for a day before the start, the boy started it almost didn't start it rolled so slow. All this time have been cleaning cables and connections. I only have a 300amp draw battery tester, batterys check bought with that. I would like to put new cables on it, maybe that would help, but don't want to throw more money at the wrong problem. I feel it is the starter myself but hard to believe when it rolls fine warm.
Here's what pisses me off about the whole deal, When I went my local carquest store five years ago. I asked for the biggest battery thet would work. Got home put them in and seen a few more inches of room. Didn't like it should have took them back but didn't. So when the starter contact went bad, instead of replacing 7 dollars in contact, 250 dollar starter (because of the slow rollover). Then one of those carquest battery tested low, They gave me a 20 dollar warrentte and 220 dollars later new interstates. Here I am again today. I feel the whole think chould have been aviod if they just gave me what I asked for the first time. The biggest batterys that would fit in the the truck. Not some Hi cold cranking amp battery in a small package. I even talked to the Deka rep (Deka make carquest batterys) He even said, they make the plate thinner on the small sized high amp batterys and they don't hold up as well. And that I should have the bigger batterys.

 

I'd have gone with the beefier starter contacts and bought good batteries to start with, it hurts up front but can save your buns in the sticks later on.

 

Sounds like you're assessing the batteries and the fact that you need GOOD STRONG batteries. The battery's "size" doesn't matter as much as you are getting the best CA and CCA you can find in a battery that fits in the tray. My batteries are something like 1000 CA and 800 CCA. And Interstate is if not one of the best.

As for the starter. Replacing it may have been a bad move. I understand that no replacement starter, especially a parts store one, is going to be anything like the OEM starter. Thats why its highly suggested to just replace the contacts if they're giving trouble or have the OEM starter rebuilt. To me it sounds like your starter is crap if you're absolutely positive that both batteries test perfect when they are test separately and independently of each other. I say that because some people test them still connected and its very difficult to detect a bad battery with the other connected.

 

Replaced starter today, seems to roll over better. I'll have to get it out in the cold weather to see.

The larger Sized battery for the amout of cranking amps matters in the life of the battery according to the Deka rep I talked to.

I just want it to roll over like it did about five year ago before I started the whole battery, starter problem.
Then I can trust the thing again.

dan

 

I will take my optima batteries any day over all of the leaking ones I have had before.... www.genosgarage.com has the rebuild kits for the starters. hope with your replacement starter you just bought you dont end up in the same spot you are. nothing like the oem starter.