I'm having some starting issues on my stock 95 automatic. mainly in the morning, about 65 deg outside. the starter turns the motor, but not fast enough. It sounds like its straining. sometimes it takes 15-20 seconds to start. volts are good though; about 13. I just replaced the batteries a few weeks ago. It didn't start one day and since the batteries were over 10 years old, i figured it was just the batteries. but now I'm concerned that my starter could have a problem or maybe it's something else I don't know about. Recently it seems like it takes forever to start but it's a lot worse after the truck sits for 10 hours and longer. It really seemed like it wouldn't start today, but to my surprise it did. please help! this is my daily driver and I need this to get to work in the morning.

I'm gonna go clean all the terminals and grounds better to see if that helps. Anyone have suggestions?

 

Well if you have new batteries i would clean all the cable conections on the batery and starter. Also check the condition of the cables make sure they arent broken. If it still dosent work it will probley be the starter.
I just went through the same thing a couple weeks ago and it sounds like the same problem that i was having. The starter is a little pricey but fairly easy the change. One other thing you could do is pull the starter off and get it tested somewere.

Devin

 

If it's your starter, check out this link before you replace it.. It could save you a ton of money..

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...arter+contacts

 

I had a similar problem that I thought was the starter too. I replaced the starter and week later it suddenly wouldn't turn over again. I then had the batteries tested at a local parts store. One was going and the other was gone. Replaced the batteries. Again, a week later it wouldn't start. I never concidered the alternator because the gauge was reading at least 14v+ when the truck was running. Turns out the gauge was wrong. I pulled the alternator and had it tested. It could barely put out 2v! I replaced the alternator and haven't had a problem since. I don't know why the gauge was wrong because ever since replacing the alternator the gauge is reading accurately. It matches another gauge that we had at the shop volt for volt. All I know is it's been about 5 months and everything is working the way it's supposed to. I would say, if you have a local parts store that will test your alternator, I would take it there just to be sure. For the most part, there's only 3 items involved in the starting circuit...batteries, starter and alternator. I took the long way around to the alternator and if the gauge would have been correct when the old alternator was on, I would have gone for it in the first place.

 

My starter was bad and the truck nearly wouldn't start - thought it was the fuel pump - it was so slow to start.

Watch your starting voltage too -- if pulling low with good batteries then it likely is the starter.

Mine went back to 1/2 second starts from 15 or 20 seconds cranking as soon as I put on the new starter.

 

Yep those starters aren't cheap - I've had to replace mine 3 times now, I don't think I'm particularly hard on starters, it's always started within about a second or two of cranking, but yeah, same symptoms I always had when they were going bad. Make sure you don't have anything putting a drain on the battery though (like a bad switch on the engine compartment light keeping the light on all the time).

 

thanks for the advice so far...

Ok so I cleaned all the cable connections to the batteries, both grounds on the block, and the positive cable to the starter. no change; same symptoms. I got the alternator tested and they said its good. I took a volt meter to the batteries: 13 volts - engine off, about 8 volts while cranking; this was after a few times starting and shutting the truck off. A friend of mine came over with his volt meter and was trying to diagnose the problem. Typically its "harder" to start after it sits for 10 hours. Maybe I'll check the volts while cranking when I start the truck up to leave work tonight.

So far, the cheapest starter I've found that doesn't require a core return (or core charge) is the Palladium p/n 99611 - brand new at Advance Auto for $198.88. I'm thinking about buying that one and throwing it on my truck this weekend. I'll probably take PChouinard's advice and rebuild my old starter. I'll keep it as a spare. Hopefully this works out! Thanks guys!

 

not to hijack but i have the opposite problem my truck starts fine after sitting a few hours but it does not want to start if it is warmed up.

 

Thanks Everyone. I Replaced The Starter And It Starts Up Perfect Now!