Is my starter going bad?

[jsfinn]

In my 95 Chevy Silverado Pickup, if it's been sitting for a day or two, I turn the key, nothing happens. I leave the key turned to the start position and after a second or two, it's start to crank slow for a second, and then turn over normally. After this process, it'll start fine all day. It only does this after it's been sitting a while.

So, I figure it can't be the battery or corrosion on the cables because it DOES start...

Does this sound like the starter is going bad?

Thanks!

 

[Haywood123]

Re: Is my starter going bad?

Sounds like the battery to me. Do you have another vehicle you could try the battery from that and see if it still does it.

 

[JCF350]

Re: Is my starter going bad?

The surest way to "NOT" fix a electrical problem is to start "figuring".
Lay your hands on a meter and test.

After all, it "could" be that your heating up a corroded connection enough to make sufficient contact.

 

[rwise]

Re: Is my starter going bad?

jsfinn a dead cell in the battery does exactly that!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is my starter going bad?

After all, it "could" be that your heating up a corroded connection enough to make sufficient contact.

Ayuh,...... I Figure that's the correct Assumption.....

And,......
Don't forget that Battery Cables have 2 ends,.... Clean Both ends of Both cables......

 

[JCF350]

Re: Is my starter going bad?

Ayuh,...... I Figure that's the correct Assumption.....

And,......
Don't forget that Battery Cables have 2 ends,.... Clean Both ends of Both cables......

Don't forget a recent thread about a connector corroded internally recently.
Always start with a meter, no guessing. You measure, you know.
Tis what a pro does.

To me a voltmeter is a necessary item in the tool box on a boat. The less than $10.00 cheapies work fine for this.

 

[beerfilter]

Re: Is my starter going bad?

Ayuh,...... I Figure that's the correct Assumption.....

And,......
Don't forget that Battery Cables have 2 ends,.... Clean Both ends of Both cables......

ALSO , do not forget the copper in between .
It can corrode and cause you much grief .
It is often hidden , you will not see it unless you put new connectors on the cables .
Replace the cables if the battery and starter test good .
Heck , replace them anyway , cheap insurance IME .

You can take them to most auto parts places and they will test batteries/starters/alternators for free , grab some new cables while you wait .

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Is my starter going bad?

Thanks for the help. I'll check everything out with the meter, and maybe drop the battery off at the shop to have them check it out.

This battery was in the truck when I bought it a few years ago.. the guy I bought it from told me it was brand new but he sometimes had trouble with it and if the truck didn't start, he'd jiggle the cable and it would start.... After that happened for me the first time (it was a different than it is now - back then, nothing would happen... now, something happens), I cleaned up some oxidization on the cable and posts and it's worked great ever since.

Thanks again - I'll let you know what it turns out to be.

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Is my starter going bad?

The truck has been sitting for at least a week unused. So, I went out today expecting the truck not to start at all (I figured whatever was failing had plenty of time to fail/corrode), and was looking forward to troubleshooting it and fixing it (...yeah..I know, it's weird... I like doing that kind of thing)...

So, I put the key in, turned it, started right up. Aarrggh! I can't troubleshoot what isn't broke!

The sky turned dark on me pretty fast and it's raining now, so maybe later in the week when it's nicer out, I'll still get out there with the volt meter to do some checking, but for right now, everything is in good shape.

Thanks for all the input!

 

[Coors]

Re: Is my starter going bad?

Bad connection in harness. and a b... to find.

 

[BigSteve1967]

Re: Is my starter going bad?

I had a similar problem awhile back with my '95 Chevy Tahoe... If it would sit a day or two it wouldnt crank but then would slowly do that then after a bit it just wouldnt crank unless I went under and "tapped" the starter....it turned out that the cable end was actually rotted and barely making contact, changed the cable and its been perfect ever since.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Is my starter going bad?

A voltmeter will only tell you if you have a connection good enough to pass voltage. But it wont tell you if it has a connection good enough to conduct enough amps or if the battery has enough amps. And amps are what u need to start things. An ampmeter will tell you, not a voltmeter.

You might have a cable or connection that requires a bit of heat to expand until good contact is made. And/or a break in the cable is welding itself good enough to last a few times until it breaks again until it welds back again.

Kinda like tapping on a "burned out" incandescent headlight to get the filament to weld itself back together and work again.

 

[JCF350]

Re: Is my starter going bad?

A voltmeter will only tell you if you have a connection good enough to pass voltage.

Your looking for voltage drops under load (which is testing). Not just measuring from point to point.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Is my starter going bad?

Also check Pos cable connection at starter.....even sometimes the bolt in the solinoid will loosen and if your sitting right it will start not it won't.....while there check out where the fuseable link connects as it can corrote and appear good....if you wiggle yiu might see some white corrosion