I have a 99 with 140k. Most recently the truck has a hard time turning over in the morning. It will start to turn over then stop. 2nd try almost always works and car starts and good throughout the rest of the day. Sounded to me like a weak battery as temps drop overnight but I took a volt meter to it one morning before I started it and it read 12.5 volts which means its holding its charge. Interestate battery is only 3 years old, I dont think its the starter because it does try to turn over...ideas?



Thanks

 

12.5 volts is pretty low. Without the truck running, my batteries have always read up around 13.5 to 14 volts. Just take it to autozone and have them test the battery. Clean up the battery posts too like Gnarly said.

 

Might be time to just bite the bullet and buy a new battery.
If thats not the problem it will have a warranty and you could take it back.
But first take a pocket knife and clean the Battery terminals up till they shine, then put those clamps back on to see if thats the problem.

 

could be a dead cell

 

starter contacts

 

Yeah..I'm thinking the battery is somehow bad. Cant be starter contacts if it tries to turn over without clicking and ok the rest of the day after an initial start?

 

12.5V is on the line of being a "bad" battery. How old is it? How many month battery is it? If its older, buy a new battery to start... My experience with starter contact problems sound different.

 

The battery is an Interstate MT24F and is about 3 years old. It has a total 75 month warranty which means it would have had to fail within 24 months for me to get a replacement. Ill check the cells tomorrow and let you know.

 

well, yes bad contacts can cause all sorts of flaky symptoms

a fresh battery can overpower the deficiency of bad contacts and you
can be right back at square one in a month or two...that is how my starter
went out. looked like bad battery, new batt fixed it for a month. then the starter really fried. and it never clicked once.

anyhow...'could be' doesn't mean for sure...was for me though

 

Bad batteries can have proper voltage but low or no cranking amps (which is what matters when it's trying to turn the engine over). It still could be starter contacts, but it's easier to test the battery 1st w/ a good tester that shows cranking amps and voltage and then compare the #s to the sticker on the battery. Most batteries have between 450-1000 c.c.a. (cold cranking amps) depending on the brand and type. Most auto parts stores have testers you can use for free.

 

FYI BigBalls was right....it was my starter contacts. Changed them out and all it good. About a 2hr job just because bolts are long and take while to get out with 3/8 drive.