Starting Problem

[obertra9]

This is an A27 with the 6 cyl Isuzu diesel. I have a starting issue this year that I think is related to one or both of these issues:
1. Starter related: over the past 8 years the engine has grown more sluggish to turn over with new marine starter battery. Interested to hear from anyone who has replaced the wiring to the starter motor or the started itself.
2. Last year the fuel from my filter/water separator was pretty contaminated with black debris. Cleaned that out, replace the filter element, and had to crack the return line from the injector rail to purge the fuel and air. Then it started last year.

If you have chased either of these issues down, would love to hear from you.

Roger

[jleonard]

Most times an issue like that is due to a bad ground connection.
I would check all those to start with (no pun intended).
You could also use jumper cables directly on the starter and that would eliminate or confirm a good/bad starter.
Be careful as it will spark when you make the final touch which should be on the starter or engine block, not the battery.
Hope this helps.

[Panhdjoe]

The best way to know weather it is a Wiring problem or a starter problem, assuming that you are sure the battery is strong. Is voltage drop testing. It is actually easy but confuses many mechanics. To test the 'hot" side connect a volt meter, neg lead of the meter on the large hot lug (connection) at the starter and the pos. lead of the volt meter to the positive post of the battery, During cranking note the reading. It should be less than 1 volt, usually hardly any voltage on a good system. To test the ground side connect the postive lead of the tester to a starter mounting bolt or where the ground cable connects. (if it connects to the starter) and the ground lead of the tester to the ground post of the battery. Again during cranking note the reading it should be less than 1 volt. With a full volt being on the high side. This test shows how much voltage is "drooping" along the way and in turn reducing the current flow. If you get 2 or 3 volts you have a problem. usually a corroded or bad connection of some sort. It could also be in a solenoid.

[Panhdjoe]

BTW what jleonard suggests is sound advice. I just go at it a little different. I was a car and truck tech. all my life and taught Automotive electrical and electronics at the local Tec College. When one understands Relays, what they do, why they are used and how to test them, and Truly understands voltage drop testing. Life with DC electrical systems gets easier. I will get off my soap box now.

[WillieC]

Re: Voltage drop

I got my eyes opened so long ago I don't even remember who showed me. It was back in the day of 6 volt VWs and I was a frugal (broke, cheap) kid. The battery cables had been repaired much earlier by use of the phony clamp on wire battery terminals. Of course they had corroded and somebody...my dad?..nah...told me to put one lead of the meter on the battery post and the other lead on the bare wire just beyond the clamp and then have somebody crank the starter. There was almost 2v of drop in that one inch of circuit. AH!!!

That was around the time I had learned how to start that bug by jacking up one rear wheel and spinning the tire in third gear. No trust fund kid here. (Make sure the rest of the tires are well blocked.)

[obertra9]

Thanks to all who provided input. I replaced the positive cable from the battery to the battery switch and it resolved the issue. The old cable was weak at the battery connection point.

[WillieC]

We ALL like the simple fixes! Glad it worked out.

[jleonard]

Sadly I found myself in the same situation yesterday as I tried to start up after changing fuel filters.
I can't do the suggested voltage testing until Thursday as my first mate is visiting family, but yesterday I cleaned every connection I could find to no avail.
Today I plan on disconnecting batteries to check each (they are getting on in years).
I also have a set of 25 ft jumper cables and hopefully I can use those to eliminate/verify battery to starter cable, etc.
I know I have a "suspect" battery + to switch cable, and I did buy cable and ends to replace this, just haven't had time to do such.
I'll report what I find in a few days.
Ship happens.

[RobS]

I can't do the suggested voltage testing until Thursday as my first mate is visiting family.....

I bought this meter with bluetooth function a couple years back. Super handy (and a must when working alone). Just connect the meter to whatever you are testing and leave it there. Open the app on your phone and it's all displayed in the palm of your hand. Quite nifty for things like voltage drops, tracing switches and breakers, etc....

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Southwire-Comp ... 1000098188

[jleonard]

Thanks for that info Rob.
But of course she has the wheels and Lowe's doesn't deliver.LOL

[WillieC]

Bluetooth meter?? I think I will offshore all my maintenance to (fill in the blank with third world country du jour.) HA!

(Oops, Alexa heard that and she is pi..ed!)

[jleonard]

2 new group 31 batteries and all is well again.
A little perplexed as the worst battery was 12.3 at rest but the results speak for themselves I guess.

[RobS]

How many seasons did you get out of them Jay? Are they shared with the house?

[jleonard]

How many seasons did you get out of them Jay? Are they shared with the house?

Only 4 seasons. normally I get 5 to 7.
Yes it is one big house/starter bank. 2 group 31s and 1 group 24 in parallel. That is what can fit into the battery box. It was the one wired directly to the starter that went weak.
The difference is that 2 years ago I changed from a 120 V only fridge (run off an inverter battery bank) to an ac/dc unit that runs off the house bank once we leave the dock.
I need to do some reconfiguration to utilize more of the inverter bank's deep cycle 6 volt batteries.

[jleonard]

Just did the voltage drop test and got a (almost) 3 volt drop.
Connections are pretty clean.
Starter rebuild time?

EDIT: I also repeated the test with my jumper cables also attached. Drop was almost 2 1/2 volts.