starter motor struggles after long drives

Joined: 25 Mar 2007

hey guys,
just a quick question.. (troopy, hj75, 2H)
i seem to have problems starting after longer trips.. short driving around town i always know it will start ok, but a longer trip (maybe 1hr plus?) the starter really struggles to kick over.
i have 2 batteries less than a year old (one close to brand new), new alternator, new regulator, all appear to be working as they should.

any simple ways i can check and be sure its a starter before forking out for a new one? or any idea what part of the starter would be faulty, if i decided to pull it to bits and have a crack at fixing myself?

or if anyone thinks other wise, any other problem it may be?

cheers, pete

Joined: 02 Aug 2003 Location: Croydon, Victoria

So the starter is turning the engine, only more slowly?

Joined: 08 May 2005 Location: www.waynecounty.com

Maybe heat from the engine bay
Is the starter near the headers, if so install a heat shield

Joined: 25 Mar 2007

yeah thats right... it just sounds as though i have a flat battery, and only just managing to turn it over.
headers are on opposite side.. but batteries are close. Would hot batteries maybe give these symptoms?

Joined: 08 May 2005 Location: www.waynecounty.com

Generally speaking a warm battery will make more charge
Once we were within one crank of a dead battery, alone and over 60km from any help
An hour of the battery in the sun and we were off

Just had a similar prob with the work van and it was the earth from battery to chassis

Sure your alternator is charging right. May be charging just enough for short trips but on long trips it may not be keeping up and thus draining the batteries
Have you got a voltmeter, if so what reading are you getting when the problem occurs?

Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Location: Melbourne Victoria

so after the long drive are you starting it straight away or some time after?

After a short drive are you starting it straight away or waiting some time.

If straight away is an issue but if your waiting it may be another issue?

Joined: 21 May 2008 Location: Coffs Harbour, Australia

Hi,

your starter motor is worn out.
When the starter gets warm from the engine, the bearings are extending and let him run bad.

New bearings for 10$ and all is fine again.

Greetings
Chris

Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Location: Adelaide

fool_injected wrote:

Just had a similar prob with the work van and it was the earth from battery to chassis

This is my first guess - slightly dodgy joint in the starter circuit which goes high resistance when it gets hot.

Disassemble, clean and reassemble all the connections in the starter motor power (high current) circuit. Both +12V side and -ve side.

If that doesn't fix it, PacMan's starter bearings theory would be my second guess.

To be honest, I think both are equally likely - but cleaning connections costs less than replacing bearings. Very Happy

Banned Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Location: sydney

My chev used to do this and was ign timing to advanced, Dunno why, but this was the prob.

Not sure if a 2h is a petty, but maybe worth a try

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:08 pm

pongo wrote:

My chev used to do this and was ign timing to advanced, Dunno why, but this was the prob.

Not sure if a 2h is a petty, but maybe worth a try

2H is diesel.

Check the earths and connetions, as Fool said. Then check your starter motor.

Layto....