Slow Start tries to "turn over" 3 to 5 times then starts?

2005 SUZUKI XL7
247,000 MILES • 2.7L • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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MGARCIA0720
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Vehicle is slow start, tries to "turn over" 3-5 times then starts. otherwise runs fine! Thought it was a valve gasket leak on the alternator and about to ruin the alternator so replaced all involved there including - valve covers gaskets, intake manifold gaskets, spark plugs, and spark plug O-rings, alternator (new not remanufactured) and belts. saw significant water come out the exhaust do added some iso-heet and ran for 1 hr. with A/C running. Battery is fine has full charge and less than 3 months old. Battery tested and is good.

Still same issue.
video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ox4KJRW0WBuDPHH5njQRsnuNnAMWXbBE/view?usp=drive_link
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Apr 1, 2025 at 10:20 AM
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STRAILER
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Thank you for the video, it helps. the first thing to do is make sure the battery cables have a good connection and the terminals are clean, this guide can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

Next, make sure the battery ground to engine block/cylinder head and the ground to the chassis is good. If these are okay, I would replace the starter motor. Here is how in the images below. Check out the images (below). Let us know how it goes and please upload images of any cable or connection that is questionable.
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Apr 1, 2025 at 6:27 PM
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MGARCIA0720
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Thank you, Ken,
Yes, terminals on battery are very clean. Cleaned them out as step 1 prior to any work.
Ground(s) - are you referring to just the (-) cable from the battery or other grounds?
If there are other grounds, can you help me pinpoint the major ones to assure we are properly grounded?
I have the starter on order so. It is on its way. but in the meanwhile, got no shame checking these things and sending the starter back. :-)
thanks again.
Apr 2, 2025 at 4:30 AM
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STRAILER
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Nice work, the grounds I speak of go from the battery to the engine and a smaller wiring going from the battery to the chassis. So, the engine will have a good ground as well as the car. You can depend on one cable to ground the car.
Apr 2, 2025 at 10:56 AM