So, my truck is starting to feel its age. As i go to start my truck in the morning, it turns over like its turning a huge v-10 engine, it almost starts, i let go of key, it dies. Now, to let you all know, its a brand new battery. The volt meter says the alternator is pushing around 13 volts.

Now, the weird thing. I have a system in my truck, it will run that with ease, but when i start my truck, it clicks, annndd, when i hook up the jumper cables to my girls amigo, it starts right up with ease.

So here is my guesses.
1. the terminals need cleaned (i did rotate them to get a batter contact, but no luck)
2. Brand new 55 dollar batter is not pushing the amps
3. need new cables
4. contacts on solonoid on starter

help guys, i need a jump start wherever i go.
im personally think its the cables.

kevan

i hate electrical problems <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

Kevan,

When you say it wants to start, how do you mean that? Is it sluggish and cranking? Once up and running does it run fine? If, once you get it started it is fine, my guess would be the starter. I replaced mine when it would not start at random intervals. I could try the key over and over and eventually it would kick, now if you are just sluggish on the start, meaning it is cranking, but not sparking then I would guess some sort of fuel delivery issue.

I guess dianosing it will be easier with a slightly better description of the symptoms.

ok sorry about that here is what happens

I get up, go to start my car. I turn the key, it turns over but it turns over slowly like it is having trouble. At the same time, it takes longer to start (it likes to be turned over a couple times before it starts) Then i let go thinking it is going to start, but no luck. Then i try again, click click click. Crap, not enough juice. So i get Destinies amigo, hook up the jumper cables, immedietly it turns over like a champ and starts. It runs fine after that, just like normal.

about a year ago, it did the click click start thing, then that went away. Also, i blew some fuses about 7 months ago, took it to the stealership, they said i have bad cables. Im hoping its the cables, because i do NOT want to tear into the starter.

kevan

Check the connection on the starter. If it is loose that could contribute....however I am guessing the starter is failing and you will need to replace it. If you can get it out(not easy on the 3.2L) you can run a test on it by hooking up the + battery terminal and the - battery terminal to the apporpriate bolts. It should jumpt to life, but if it sticks, it is worn out and should be replaced.

My guess is the battery isn't holding a charge or the alternator isn't charging it enough to crank it over. I had the same problem a few months back. I first got a new starter. No change. New battery came next. This solved the problem for a month. Then the problem returned. I took the battery back and got a new one. About 2 weeks went by and then the problem was back. An alternator from a junk yard finally fixed the whole thing. Turns out that the battery went bad from being undercharged by the alternator. Funny thing is that my voltmeter was saying 13 to 14 volts as well.

An easy way to see if it is your battery no having enough amps is to take the one out of the amigo and put it into the rodeo. See if it comes right to life or not. Then leave it in there for a few days and see if it keeps coming to life or if the altenator isn't charging it enough. In that case it could be the wires from the alternator to the battery or just the battery itself.

Troy

Thanx troy, ill try that tommarow since the amigo wont be home till 10 pm

BTW, are you going on the pony express trail in FEB?

kevan

Kevan, just take the negative cable off the battery when it is runing. If it continues to run it isn't your alternator. Based on the symptoms it sounds more like your starter, to be more specific, your starter selenoid. I haven't looked at one yet on the Isuzu's but I believe it is integrated into the starter.

Removing a battery cable from a vehicle while it is running is a bad idea in my book. The alternator could surge and fry everything electrical. Test it the right way, using a load tester and voltage tester.

Dan

Yes the sol. is piggybacked onto the starter. Swap batteries, good advice. The fact that your alt is only putting out 13 volts is a problem. It should be more like 14 or 14.5 Was this measured with a meter or the dash gauge?