Battery, Starter, Alternator Troubleshooting

[SavGACruiser]

Hi Guys,

I'd love some input an opinions. Here is my situation.

'97 LC runs and drives great. No history of trouble cranking, since I've owned it. Battery was replaced by previous owner and I don't know when it was done.

I started the truck with no problems Wed morning then drove the truck about 15 miles before parking it until Thursday late afternoon. It probably sat for about 36 hours. When I tried to crank it, it didn't make any noise other than a whirring sound. It didn't turn over on the first attempt but did crank quite sluggishly the third time I turned the key. I then drove it for about 5 miles to meet some friends for dinner where it sat again for a bit over an hour. Same thing, tough to start but did crank on second attempt. At this point, I drove it straight home and parked it overnight.

This morning, it was very difficult to start but finally cranked extremely sluggishly after several attempts. I drove it about 15 miles straight to Advanced Auto where the battery and alternator tested fine. The truck only sat for about 10 minutes and fired up like a champ when I tried to crank it. I drove it about three miles to work and sat in the parking lot turning the truck off and cranking it again four times. Each time it fired right up on the first key turn with no hesitation.

I initially thought my starter was the culprit. Now despite the battery testing OK, I'm thinking it was simply charged by the alternator on the way to Advance Auto but isn't holding a charge. I'm of the opinion that the battery is to blame.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[mossman40]

Whirring sound seems to me to be starter solenoid. I'd look in that direction. Get an oem one from cdan, or maybe try putting new starter contacts/plunger in your current starter.

 

[SavGACruiser]

Thanks for the response! That was my initial thought too, but considering it fired up with no hesitation four times in a row immediately after being driven for 20 minutes makes me doubt the starter is the source of the problem. Thoughts?

Whirring sound seems to me to be starter solenoid. I'd look in that direction. Get an oem one from cdan, or maybe try putting new starter contacts/plunger in your current starter.

 

[quasi]

it sounds like your starter motor, the solenoid is sending power to the starter, but the plunger is not engaging with the ring gear. the whirring is it just spinning freely. I'd get the starter rebuilt completely.
to find out the age of your battery, sometimes the manufacturing date is stamped on the negative post.
cheers

 

[CJF]

I'll bet the whirring was just the fan behind the radio.

ALWAYS suspect the battery first in a situation like this.

Oh, and I hope you're carrying jumper cables??

 

[SavGACruiser]

I agree. I may have overemphasized the whirring sound. The way the truck fired up immediately after driving for 25 minutes four times in a row without hesitation makes me doubt the starter is the problem.

I'll bet the whirring was just the fan behind the radio.

ALWAYS suspect the battery first in a situation like this.

Oh, and I hope you're carrying jumper cables??

 

[Kernal]

Battery/starter connections clean and tight??

 

[SavGACruiser]

Battery/starter connections clean and tight??

Yessir

 

[alia176]

Yessir

As in corrosion free battery lugs as well?

I take it that the auto shop found nothing wrong with your battery or the alternator?

Let it sit over night and give us a battery voltage before AND during cranking please.

Give us the age/cca/make/model of the battery too just in case. Oh yeah, what's your blood type?