and a '96 with starting trouble ...

[Hattaen]

Hi.

I have a '96 diesel with starting problems. There are no error codes.

Two weeks ago my starting problems began. In the morning and in the afternoon the car would start (but not as easy as before) after cranking for 3-5 seconds. But if the car was "warm" then it was harder to get the running (eg 5-10 sek with cranking / 2-3 times). The last week the cranking period has been longer before start, and it became close to impossible to get the car running again if I waited more than 20-30 minutes (until the car was "cold" again 3-4 hours later).

I thought that I could hear that the speed of the starter engine was slower than before, and since my batteries where old I went out and bought some new. The glow plugs have also just been changed (and I have measured the voltage on each of the glow plugs). The diesel pump in the tank is also working (I can hear the pump running, and have also checked that the fuel is comming into the filter.

The last two days the speed of the starter engine has really been worse, and now it won't run at all. (It started to go slower and slower until it finally "gave up"). The voltage without starter engine running is approx 12,8V and with the starter running (when it actually was running) it was approx 11.3V in the end.

Could this be "just" a faulty starter engine or maybe something more serious?


Stian

[777stickman]

It's really hard to tell what the trouble is. Most starters have a crank limit. Don't know what it is but if you crank too long the starter gets hot and that creates major electrical resistance in the starter itself.

I really don't think that 11.3 volts is a bad thing at the end of a long crank period.

Along with the starter and starting issues are the battery cables. Are they clean and tight and even though they may look clean there may be corrosion under the outer cover that cannot be seen that causes high resistance. This can be checked by turning the headlights on during cranking. If the lights go really dim or even go out then the cables and/or connections would be a place to look at.

[Hattaen]

Dear 777stickman.

I've checked the cables and connectors and all off them are ok. The headlights are dimming just a little bit and this should mean that the cables and batteries should be ok.

[777stickman]

Originally Posted by Hattaen

Dear 777stickman.

I've checked the cables and connectors and all off them are ok. The headlights are dimming just a little bit and this should mean that the cables and batteries should be ok.

Agreed. The checks for hard starting are extensive. Among them are the ECT (engine coolant temp sensor greater than +/- 5 deg from ambient temp), injection pump and "slow" cranking speed (100 rpm cold-180 rpm hot).

I'm not a diesel guy. Just reading out of my '98 C/K manual. Hope this helps.

[Hattaen]

Dear all, thank you for all your replies!

Today my new starter engine arrived, and that solved my problems!

I'm now a happy owner of a starting Suburban again.