Slow cranking

Tiny
CONRADISH006
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS
  • 6.0L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 118,000 MILES
My alternator was bad so I replaced it and I have a 1-year old battery. But my starter tested fine. But it cranks really slow.
Tuesday, January 29th, 2019 AT 10:18 AM

19 Replies

Tiny
SEVAG P
  • MECHANIC
  • 405 POSTS
Hello,

-first charge your battery. https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-charge-your-car-battery
-check the battery if its in good condition(load test) run our guide: https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test,
-check the battery cables and clean them:https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked.
-check starter connection if the nuts are tight and clean
-check the engine ground if its clean and properly tightened.
-perform voltage drop test good connection should have voltage drop of 0.2v or less.
-to perform voltage drop test first prepare the car to not start when cranking by removing fuel pump relay, use digital voltmeter put the red terminal on positive post of the battery and the black terminal to the starter thick cable which is called terminal 30 +then crank the engine result must be lower than 0.2v if not problem can be from connection points or the cable.
-same test perform with voltmeter to negative post of the battery and starter housing.perform the same procedure.
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Tuesday, January 29th, 2019 AT 11:28 AM
Tiny
CONRADISH006
  • MEMBER
  • 53 POSTS
I have charged the battery and tested it. And the alternator connections are secure and rust free. It is also -2 degrees outside and the starter was tested after it had been it the house. So I am thinking that the starter doesn't like the cold.
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Wednesday, January 30th, 2019 AT 3:49 PM
Tiny
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Hello,

Have you performed voltage drop test as mentioned above? High resistance cables can cause engine hard to start.
What type of engine oil are you using? High viscosity oil can cause the same problem.
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Wednesday, January 30th, 2019 AT 9:24 PM
Tiny
CONRADISH006
  • MEMBER
  • 53 POSTS
I have not performed a voltage drop test. And I am using 5w-30 full synthetic. As it recommends in the owners manual.
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Thursday, January 31st, 2019 AT 5:55 AM
Tiny
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Perform voltage drop test and please tell me the result, really interested to know what's the problem.
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Thursday, January 31st, 2019 AT 6:40 AM
Tiny
CONRADISH006
  • MEMBER
  • 53 POSTS
Okay.
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Thursday, January 31st, 2019 AT 9:06 AM
Tiny
CONRADISH006
  • MEMBER
  • 53 POSTS
I am doing that this afternoon.
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Thursday, January 31st, 2019 AT 9:06 AM
Tiny
SEVAG P
  • MECHANIC
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Good luck.
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Thursday, January 31st, 2019 AT 9:12 AM
Tiny
CONRADISH006
  • MEMBER
  • 53 POSTS
Thanks.
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Thursday, January 31st, 2019 AT 9:29 AM
Tiny
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You are welcome.
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Thursday, January 31st, 2019 AT 11:28 AM
Tiny
CONRADISH006
  • MEMBER
  • 53 POSTS
I did the voltage drop test and it did not drop below 0.2 volts.
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Thursday, January 31st, 2019 AT 6:53 PM
Tiny
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Hello,

When your value is more than 0.2 volts then you have bad connection or bad cable.
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Thursday, January 31st, 2019 AT 9:28 PM
Tiny
CONRADISH006
  • MEMBER
  • 53 POSTS
I am going to replace the starter. It has 120,000 miles on it and I live in a cold climate.
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Friday, February 1st, 2019 AT 8:54 AM
Tiny
CONRADISH006
  • MEMBER
  • 53 POSTS
Sometimes its -5 in the winter and it is sometimes 100F in the summer.
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Friday, February 1st, 2019 AT 8:56 AM
Tiny
SEVAG P
  • MECHANIC
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Hello,

Make sure your battery is in good condition because most of the time battery can effect from cold weather.
If you can run an outside cable from battery positive post to starter terminal 30 which is the thick cable and recheck if it doesn't make any difference replace starter.
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Friday, February 1st, 2019 AT 9:46 AM
Tiny
CONRADISH006
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  • 53 POSTS
The new starter fixed it.
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Friday, February 1st, 2019 AT 10:37 AM
Tiny
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Hello,

Very nice to hear that, have fun then, congratulation.
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+1
Friday, February 1st, 2019 AT 10:42 AM

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