Slow-ish Crank

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Loogie

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Sep 17, 2007
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Michigan
I have a 1997 Monte Carlo with the original starter (!), and a 2 year-old alternator.
I noticed recently (even before the very cold weather) that it is cranking just a bit slower than usual--it isn't severe, but noticeable, and the car starts every time. I haven't had much time to do the necessary troubleshooting, but I knew that the battery was 7 years old (!), so I replaced it with a 3 week-old Everstart from Walmart.

I did do some cursory checking (belt is fine, connections all appear ok, alternator is kicking out the proper charging voltage), but haven't had the time (or inclination, due to very cold weather and an unheated detached garage) to perform voltage drops/resistance to check all connections.

I believe the battery is ok (though I know that it is possible to get a bad one brand new), and the charging system seems ok.
I have never had a starter last so long, and when I had a starter fail, it simply quit rather than becoming weaker.

Could the slow crank be the starter beginning to fail? I don't have the capability to measure starter draw, and I would hate to pull it unnecessarily for testing.
Any ideas?

Thanks,
Bob
 
Starters DO get weak over time and even with a good battery spins over slower,I've changed them out many times,install a new one and fast cranks return.
 
Try cleaning all connections between your starter and battery. My Neon with original starter and alternator and newish battery slow cranked a few days ago in -18C, old corroded connections was the culprit. Next day it started like it was +18C! It was -15C.
 
Battery cables corroded where the terminals connect? sometimes it is an R+R after doing a volt drop test of all the connections. The ned/ground and connectin is just as important as the positive.
 
As the bearings wear... they are generally bushings, not ball or rollers.. the armature begins to drag on the fields and cranking slows, worse month by month.

I have gone through the same sequence several times... the previous posters are correct, check out all the cheap and simple stuff, then swap the starter.
 
You folks confirmed my suspicions, thanks. Sometimes it helps to have a few extra brains working a problem!

I will check all connections and rule them out before pulling the starter.
 
Beware of cheapo reman replacement starters. The last one on my GM lasted all of two years before [censored] out. Not sure which ones are good and which ones aren't, so if you know of someone who does rebuilds it might be better to go that way. Though I bet if that starter has been on there through Michigan winters it is pretty corroded by now.
 
Are you sure the new battery has the same CCA as the old battery? Maybe it's not enough for the car in question.
 
Yeah, Michiganders LOVE road salt in the winter!
Funny, my car has always started very fast: da-da-vroom! Or da-da-da-vroom! This probably helped starter longevity.
I also use synthetic oils in the winter, which allows the car to crank much more easily than conventionals.
Hmm...could synthetic oils prolong starter life in cold weather? Would make an interesting study.

If needed, I will probably get the Duralast Gold starter from Autozone. $155, and apparently new, made by Delco Remy.

While the starter is nearly $100 less than the one I put on my wife's CR-V, I am still floored by the cost of these new starters.
We used to get reman starters from Murray's for small block Chevies for about $30. They lasted just fine.
In fact, one is still on a friend's 327, and it has to be 20 years old.
 
Originally Posted By: Loogie
Yeah, Michiganders LOVE road salt in the winter!
Funny, my car has always started very fast: da-da-vroom! Or da-da-da-vroom! This probably helped starter longevity.
I also use synthetic oils in the winter, which allows the car to crank much more easily than conventionals.
Hmm...could synthetic oils prolong starter life in cold weather? Would make an interesting study.

If needed, I will probably get the Duralast Gold starter from Autozone. $155, and apparently new, made by Delco Remy.

While the starter is nearly $100 less than the one I put on my wife's CR-V, I am still floored by the cost of these new starters.
We used to get reman starters from Murray's for small block Chevies for about $30. They lasted just fine.
In fact, one is still on a friend's 327, and it has to be 20 years old.


I hear you! New starters are a huge rip!
The ones for my Saturn (Canadian) start at well over $200. Some as high as almost $300.
Remans are even $150+ before core.
I finally got a good deal on one through my normal hookup at Napa, but its a reman, because the new ones were outrageous.
 
Yeah I've seen about three starters drag. Killing the one in my mazda 323 at a mere -7'F got me interested in synthetic oil.
 
Check around locally for a generator repair company.....preferably one that's been around for a lot of years. I have one locally that will rebuild a starter for anything (even peugeot) in less than a day and I've never had an issue afterwards....always better than new!

Maybe you're as lucky as I am.
 
I had a 79 Malibu that sounded like the battery was half dead,and the motor real tight. Turned out is was the starter. after replacing,it started normally again.
 
Originally Posted By: suspiciousmind
Check around locally for a generator repair company.....preferably one that's been around for a lot of years. I have one locally that will rebuild a starter for anything (even peugeot) in less than a day and I've never had an issue afterwards....always better than new!

Maybe you're as lucky as I am.


Not here.. No one can get parts for the Valeo starters in the Saturns. Sucks, they are expensive to buy even reman!
 
Interesting, I didn't consider having the starter rebuilt. That might be an excellent option.

There is a very reputable electrical repair place right around the corner. They quickly fixed an annoying problem with my old Caprice.
 
Had a few minutes to do some checking.

The car has not been driven for a bit under 3 days. Very cold temps here--single digits at night, 15-20 during the day.

Resting voltage: 12.44 with a cheap voltmeter, 12.29 with my nice one.

Cranking voltage: 9.6-9.8 (the numbers moved so quickly it was hard to tell if it briefly went to 9.6 ). I cranked for about 3 seconds before the car started.

Running, the alternator immediately kicked out 14.8v.

Hmm...resting voltage seems a bit low. 9.6 during crank is pretty borderline too, I think. The battery might just be flaky.
Any additional wisdom?
 
Thanks andyd, I was thinking the same thing.

This morning the car started quickly.
The new battery is an Everstart 600cca, wheras the old battery was AC Delco 620 or 630, so not a giant difference.

I went to Walmart yesterday to do some shopping (not the same store where the battery was purchased) and noted they have the Everstart Maxx 75n 700cca.

Interestingly, it appears that both the 75 and 78 series fit my car. The Maxx size 78 is 800cca! I am tempted...
 
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