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TR2/3/3A More electrical....the Starter?

karls59tr

Obi Wan
Bronze
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The battery shows a full charge but when I start the car there is a lot of hesitation in the cranking....the starter maybe catches on the third spin around. Is the starter on the way out. It's a bit of a hassle to take it out and bench test it. Anybody ever have a starter slowly go dead on them?
 
As I learned just a few days ago, strange starter behavior when the battery is fully charged - is often caused by a bad ground cable connection somewhere.

Check: battery voltage, battery post terminals, power cable to starter, ground cable to chassis.

Tom M.
 
I have, but it's a lot more common for the battery to develop a high internal resistance; which means the voltage looks fine without a heavy load (it "takes a charge"), but drops under the load of the starter.

You might call around, should be an auto parts store or auto electrical shop that can do a load test for you. Around here, most places do it for free (in hopes they can sell you a battery).
 
As I learned just a few days ago, strange starter behavior when the battery is fully charged - is often caused by a bad ground cable connection somewhere.

Check: battery voltage, battery post terminals, power cable to starter, ground cable to chassis.

Tom M.
Hey Tom It was the power cable at the starter....very loose connection.
 
I have, but it's a lot more common for the battery to develop a high internal resistance; which means the voltage looks fine without a heavy load (it "takes a charge"), but drops under the load of the starter.

You might call around, should be an auto parts store or auto electrical shop that can do a load test for you. Around here, most places do it for free (in hopes they can sell you a battery).

Randall I have a voltmeter gauge in my 3. It shows a reading just under 15 when with the engine running....is this excessive or is the alternator trying to bring the battery up to a better charge? Car seems to start and run fine once I tightened the power cable at the starter. It's been my experience that even with a new battery once it has been run dead and recharged they are never quite the same. Even though my trickle charger shows a charged battery I might be better off getting a load test as you suggested.
 
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