Jimbo120

Here's a problem I've been having lately. It may have been happening a while but I've been using the car more so it seems more noticeable.

When the car is cold and I get in and crank it up, the motor cranks with out any problem right up until it fires and running. That could be 10 or 15 seconds depending on how long it's been sitting. So I'd drive to work, car is at op temp, and I stop at 7-eleven. I get back in the car and it struggles to crank. It sounds like the battery is going dead, motor turns slowly like the starter is struggling to turn it. Then after a few seconds it starts. The car sits all day at work, I come out and it starts with no problems. If i stop on the way home, restart is difficult again. I checked the battery with a load tester, it's good, alternator is good, 14.45 volts at idle. So, I swapped out the started for another I had, no change. Any ideas?

don71

Battery cables? Test to confirm they're not dropping too much voltage during cranking when hot. Cables can look good and have internal corrosion causing voltage drop.

I'll presume you replaced the starter solenoid when you swapped starters? And of course good clean connections at all locations.

Jimbo120

The cables are 2 years old. Went with the heavier gage. I was wondering if there was some kind of timing issue.

oldcutlass

Your timing may be too far advanced.

ignachuck

I second that^^^^^^

meoff

x 3

Chugger

My car acted the very same way - it always started but it always seemed like it wasn't going too. I put a single shim in the starter and a ground cable from the starter to the frame.
Now it starts just like it should no matter what.

1arunem

Mine was doing the same thing. Starter was getting weak when hot (heat soak).

Replaced starter and all is well...

Jimbo120

I ran out of time for the car this past weekend. I'm going to back off on the timing a little this coming weekend and see what happens.