Starting Issue opinion
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 961
Likes: 118
From: Panama City, Florida
Starting Issue opinion
About a month ago I noticed when starting (after it sat a few days) the first turn or two would sound like a slight drag (slow turn over) then start right up. The last couple times when I turned the key it clicked the first time. Turn the key off then it cranked right up the rest of the day with no problem. Does this sound like the battery or starter?
Moderator, Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 15,612
Likes: 4,061
From: Cape Coral, Florida
If I were you being that the car sat for a few days with starting issues I would load test your battery, check for a parasitic draw, and then remove, clean, and reinstall battery connections at BOTH ends and retest !!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 802
From: Espanola New Mexico
Make sure your battery is good have it charged and load tested, before going out and just buying a new battery. I have had the same experience with my 97 coupe lately, it lost it's spot in my one car garage to a 37 Plymouth 2dr sedan I bought recently. With colder winter temps and not using my car for a few days, it does the slow cranking, I have measured current draw at 20 mamps. So fire up that car every few days or keep a battery tender on it, especially during winter months.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 377
From: SW Ohio
Check form tightness at all your cable connections at the battery and starter, fuse box, and grounds. If those are they tight and there is no corrosion, then get the battery tested. Will be a simple fix no doubt. A bunch of people find their started connections are loosening up over time. And of course batteries are consumed as snacks on these cars.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 119
Likes: 54
From: Adirondacks, NY
I would do more than load test your battery. I would perform a starter draw test and do a voltage drop over the cables. The draw test and load test you will need access to some specialized tools, but it will narrow down if it's a battery issue, a starter issue, or both/neither. A voltage drop over the cables is easy. With your multimeter From set to DC volts, place each lead at your B+ terminal and your positive lug in your starter. If you see more than 0.4 Volts, you may have an issue in the cable. You can do the same test for your ground cable to frame.
