Weak Starting - Not Alt/Battery
03-24-08, 07:23 AM
#1
Weak Starting - Not Alt/Battery
CLIFF NOTES
1. Up until Sat night the car's starter had the very zippy sound
2. After that, it became really sluggish, starting wasnt as easy as it used to be.
3. Tested Battery and Alternator - TESTED OK
4. Bought a new battery - Car still starts sluggish.
5. It happened just like that, started fine and then an hour later, started slow.
On sat night, I was leaving for a car show and when I started my car, instead of the normal zippy starter sound, it was very sluggish, but still started the car.
I drove the car to the show, then left, went to dinner, and went home. The starter sounded weaker everytime I started it, making me think battery or alt.
When i got home I self tested the alternator and saw it was in the 14v range. I trickle charged the battery and in the morning, it started better than before, yet still sluggish.
I went to Advance and I had my friend test my battery AND my alternator, both tested OK.
However, we tried out another "new" battery, yet same thing, weak starting. I bought the battery because it was a steal for an Optima
.
However, this brings the question, is this my starter telling me it is dieing? Or is it something else? The grounds are fine and the connections all around are good.
Thanks for the help
Matt
1. Up until Sat night the car's starter had the very zippy sound
2. After that, it became really sluggish, starting wasnt as easy as it used to be.
3. Tested Battery and Alternator - TESTED OK
4. Bought a new battery - Car still starts sluggish.
5. It happened just like that, started fine and then an hour later, started slow.
On sat night, I was leaving for a car show and when I started my car, instead of the normal zippy starter sound, it was very sluggish, but still started the car.
I drove the car to the show, then left, went to dinner, and went home. The starter sounded weaker everytime I started it, making me think battery or alt.
When i got home I self tested the alternator and saw it was in the 14v range. I trickle charged the battery and in the morning, it started better than before, yet still sluggish.
I went to Advance and I had my friend test my battery AND my alternator, both tested OK.
However, we tried out another "new" battery, yet same thing, weak starting. I bought the battery because it was a steal for an Optima
.However, this brings the question, is this my starter telling me it is dieing? Or is it something else? The grounds are fine and the connections all around are good.
Thanks for the help
Matt
03-26-08, 01:08 PM
#6
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Canada
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It could be the starter...
I had the same symptoms... The starter would be sluggish and turn over the engine slowly whenever I tried to start the car.
In my case, I found out it was the starter when I went to have the battery and alternator tested. The guy from the shop did a load test and the trouble pointed to the starter... It turned out the starter's brushes were bad and drawing a lot of current from the battery when the car was being started.
I also noticed my clock resetting when I tried starting the car and the occasional 'click' from the starter (without the engine turning over) when trying to start the car.
Hope this helps with your troubleshooting.
In my case, I found out it was the starter when I went to have the battery and alternator tested. The guy from the shop did a load test and the trouble pointed to the starter... It turned out the starter's brushes were bad and drawing a lot of current from the battery when the car was being started.
I also noticed my clock resetting when I tried starting the car and the occasional 'click' from the starter (without the engine turning over) when trying to start the car.
Hope this helps with your troubleshooting.
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03-28-08, 04:37 PM
#10
Hacked CL to become a Mod
i had a problem when i started my car (car in storage) i usually start it once a week. so anyways, i start it fine but then it starts juddering like crazy, after awhile it goes away i was so freaked out
