Long start crank
 

Hello Ram Van Fans,

I have a question. What would cause my 2000 Ram 3500 Van to have a long crank. Once it fires it starts right up. Crank is probably 3-4 seconds. Battery is new, but maybe it was a bad new battery? The only other thing I can think of is maybe a weak starter?

Thanks in advance,

Not sure what you are describing but it could be taking you time to build fuel pressure.

Sorry, I guess what I mean is that I turn the key and the engine is spinning but not starting (for 3-4 seconds). I thought the same thing about the fuel pressure so I tried turning it to on for a few seconds before turning it to start to build up fuel pressure. It didn't really help. It doesn't do this when it's been running for a while though.
I wonder if I have a weak starter?

The engine needs to roll over at least once, for the PCM to figger out where everything is. If it is turning over good, starter is fine. Try cycling the key twice before trying to start. If it then starts right up, its just the fuel system losing prime.

Nah, tried that today. Didn't help. When cold, it has to crank for a while. After it's warm, it starts almost instantly (like if I stopped at a gas station, for example). I might take it to autozone to put it on a battery tester...

What about low compression? That would cause a long crank when cold and faster start when hot.

Hm. I've never tested for that... What causes that? Piston rings, valves not seating?

Either one or both.

This issue comes up a lot in the colder weather. Often it is a result of the PCM not being able to work correctly in the cold. If you want to test the PCM, first thing in the morning, go out with a hairdryer and use it to warm up the PCM. Once it is sufficiently warm, try and start the engine; if it fires right up the PCM is the problem.

Great idea and super weird to think the electronics have a temperature dependence… but I guess the controller is 23 years old…