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Starter starting to go?

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Old Oct 27, 2013 | 06:17 AM
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Default Starter starting to go?

I really haven't been driving my truck until recently. After letting it sit for a few months with going out and starting it and taking it for a little spin. When I had to start using it as a dd when I went to start it, it just clicked two times and then turned over.

I've been daily driving it for the last two months and now when I go to start it, it cranks slower than normal and starts...other times it cranks really slow and starts. My battery terminals has some corrosion on them so I'll start with cleaning those.

What else should I check?
 
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Old Oct 27, 2013 | 08:31 AM
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I'd check fuel spark plugs, wires, cap and rotor. When's the last time you replaced these things? Then I would check fuel pressure.

How well does it run?
How old is the battery?

I've never heard of the starters going out in these trucks, although I'm sure it does happen.
 
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Old Oct 27, 2013 | 09:21 AM
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My starter went at ~163K... the "click click" with no cranking, then away it goes, is likely the contacts on the starter.
I believe there is an overhaul kit for them, but a good new starter can be had for ~$90-$100.

Slow cranking is more likely battery or dirty terminals.
Batteries are only good for 3-4yrs, especially in cold weather.
 

Last edited by Spillage; Oct 27, 2013 at 09:25 AM.
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Old Oct 27, 2013 | 09:39 AM
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Your description makes it sound like the corrosion at the terminals (bad connection) or the battery are the possible problems. Start with cleaning all of the corrosion off the battery terminals and charge up the battery with a trickle charger to ensure the battery is fully charged. You may also want to load-test the battery to see if it can still properly handle the load of the starter. You can pick up a decent battery load-tester reasonably at Harbor Freight or take the battery to your local AutoZone or Advance Auto for testing for free.
 
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Old Oct 27, 2013 | 03:56 PM
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I ended up going out this morning to take the truck over to walmart and have the battery checked. I went out, went to start it, it cracked a little longer, started for a split second and shut off.

Pulled the battery, took it to Walmart, had them test it and it ended up being bad.
 
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Old Oct 27, 2013 | 07:41 PM
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Got a new one in there yet? Running??
 
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