I have a weird starting issue on my ’85 22R. Basically, if the truck has been sitting for about 2 or more days, it won’t immediately start on the first crank. I usually have to crank it 7-8 times. But even then it’s not guaranteed. Sometimes, I’ll have to hook up a battery pack charger (I have the NOCO 1000A), and then it’ll finally turn over.

But here are the weird things that I can’t make sense of:

• battery replaced 6 months ago.
• alternator replaced a month ago.
• I don’t think it’s the starter because it starts fine on a warm start.
• I also have a negative battery terminal disconnect device. So when I know I’m not going to drive it for a day or more, I’ll disconnect the negative terminal. That way, there is no parasitic draw.
• I tested my battery with a voltmeter and I know it’s getting 12 volts.

Anyway, I’m at a loss. Anyone have any ideas?

 

Let it sit for 2-3 days and then have the battery load tested before trying to start the truck. The battery may be reading 12V with no load but trying to start it may be far less.
Does the starter turn over the engine briskly or is it sluggish?

But I really think your problem is elsewhere, as in not starter/electrical.

It is a 22R with a carburetor? The original Aisin carburetor?
If it is it sounds like the choke isn't working. After depressing the gas pedal to the floor once or twice (are you doing that?) check that the choke plate is fully closed before trying to start it. If it isn't open the throttle slightly then push the choke plate closed, it should stay closed and try to start it. It may just need a good spray down with carb cleaner to clean the linkages.

Could be other things but start there.

 

If it's a warm start, or if I have the battery pack connected, then the starting is brisk.

Yes, it's a 22R with a carb. Not sure if it's the original or not. Yes, I'm giving it two full pumps of the gas pedal before I start it, plus I'm pushing it in about half way during the start.

I'll check the choke plate and I'll pick up some carb cleaner and spray it down. Thanks for the insight.

 

So lets be clear here...it cranks slowly and is hard to start cold without the battery pack connected but cranks and starts easily cold with it connected? That sounds like the battery.

You should not hold the throttle down at all during a cold start, you may in fact be kicking the choke off. Hot start...yes hold the throttle open a crack.

Do you have the FSM? Somewhere in the vast compilation of YotaTech there are E copies you can download.

 

Well, here's the thing. I replaced the battery 6 months ago, let the truck sit for about a week right after that, then when I went to start it again, it did the same thing where it took multiple attempts. I suppose it's possible I bought a defective battery, but when I test the voltage (even after letting it sit for a week or more sometimes), it still reads 12 volts, so I know it's at least holding its charge.

Yes, I picked up a physical copy of the FSM off ebay not too long ago.

 

So it had this problem before replacing the battery? Then it's likely not the battery...look into the choke.

Back to the battery. As I said you cant tell the state of a battery with just a voltmeter if the battery is not under load without the truck running. Honestly those trucks should start with less then 12V. My 83 has been down as low as 9-10v by the factory voltmeter, with an old battery, and its fired right up.

 

Yeah, it was doing this with the old battery. So I figured it was time for a new battery anyway, since I had no idea how old the previous battery was. But then it was having the same starting issues even with the new battery. The choke is one of the components I haven't checked yet. I'll check it in a few days when I'm back home.

 

Any update on this? From my little knowledge, sounds like a carb issue to me too.