starter drags when cold (hard starting)

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by gafred99, Dec 21, 2009.

  1. Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

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    Batteries can and do go bad quite often...even brand new ones.

    A load tester is pretty cheap...probably a lot cheaper than paying somebody to test them for you.

    1 single battery with a dead cell will cause the problems he is having right up until the battery dies completely.

    From his description...he has the volts to turn the engine over, but its weak on amps. Its the amps that gives the starter its "horsepower".

    A dead cell in 1 of the 4-6 batteries will knock a big dent in the available amps.
     
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  3. gafred99

    gafred99 Light Load Member

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    See I took all 4 batteries to the manufactures local wharehouse for testing. I left them there from when they openend until closing, they did a charge and load test. They said all fine.

    I'll do the ground from battery to starter cable....
     
  4. oneshot

    oneshot Medium Load Member

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    They should have load tested b4 charging that way u would have an accurate picture of battery stength right off the truck.But if the batteries are good I think it will be the starter.Since it does better after engine is warm.It does'nt take much starter wear to show up when engine is cold.U can bypass the solenoid and listen to the starter turn but not engage to hear if it's turning good and free.Good Luck
     
  5. lovesthedrive

    lovesthedrive R.I.P.

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    Sooooo, inquiring minds would like to know. What did you find out?
     
  6. black_dog106

    black_dog106 Road Train Member

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    What he said........:yes2557:

    And HAPPY HOLIDAYS, members.........
     
  7. forner

    forner Light Load Member

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    i had a same problem with my mbn 525 ...ground wire on starter was loose...sometimes u have to put a wrench on them just to check...sounds like ground but i also had a positive coming loose...
     
  8. heavyhaulerss

    heavyhaulerss Road Train Member

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    I would say it's in the starter/ solenoid.
     
  9. Rock hauler

    Rock hauler Light Load Member

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    Deridder La.
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    look at the cables, if they have corrision in the strands under the insolation it will cause resistance in the cable. warm engines start better than cold engines. not always but mostly cold starters work better than hot ones. if the insolation is swolen at the end of the cable, change it.
     
  10. heavyhaulerss

    heavyhaulerss Road Train Member

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    cables are important. I went north one year, maybe 8 times thru oh, mi, they use a liquid type de icer. it gets into everything. a few months after winter, I looked at my cables. they looked fine but when I looked close by cutting into the rubber insulation near the cable ends, I could see green corrosion, that was not visible until I pulled rubber insulation back. I replaced all jumper cables, both ground & pos to batt, & new e.c.m. wiring. then I put liquid tape on thick all over the ends to seal it up. after this my truck no longer shot out bogus codes, like eng stop, or oil press codes.
     
  11. kneegrow

    kneegrow Bobtail Member

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    ardmore, ok
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    at 30f your oil could be cold and thick this could cause a drag in starting
     
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