Hard to start

[roebro]

Turn ignition key, dash lights all come on and solenoid clicks but starter doesn’t engage. After doing this 4 or 5 times the starter engages and all is good. Could this be a flat spot on the starter or an electrical/ignition problem?

 

[wjburken]

Can you share a little more about your vehicle? Year, mileage, motor, etc? How old is the battery? What do the battery cable connections look like?

 

[roebro]

Can you share a little more about your vehicle? Year, mileage, motor, etc? How old is the battery? What do the battery cable connections look like?

2007 XL Denali, 233009 miles, 6.2. Napa battery 6 months old, cables clean.

 

[wjburken]

2007 XL Denali, 233009 miles, 6.2. Napa battery 6 months old, cables clean.

The next thing you can do is check that you’re getting voltage to the starter.

Otherwise, if that’s where you are leaning based on your other troubleshooting, you can take it in to Autozone and have them test it. The starter needs to be taken out through the passenger side wheel well but you get to the bolts from underneath. Will need to snake it through the transmission cooler lines.

 

[Fless]

The next thing you can do is check that you’re getting voltage to the starter.

To add, measure the voltage at the main starter connection as you're attempting to crank it.

One thing that happens to these is that the battery cables -- both positive and negative -- tend to rot from the inside out; the connections on the end look okay but the cables don't carry the amp load. If there is a significant voltage drop at the starter as cranking is attempted, then either the starter is drawing too much current, one or both cables can't carry the load, or the starter is otherwise defective.

EDIT: you could also jump the starter relay in the fusebox, or substitute a known good one.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I had a very similar situation on my 07. Replacing the starter resolved the issue.

 

[roebro]

I had a very similar situation on my 07. Replacing the starter resolved the issue.

I replaced the starter and it started right up. In fact I started it 3 times to make sure it wasn’t just a 1 and done starter from Amazon. About 4 hours later I went out to try it and the battery was almost completely drained. Could I have done something wrong or could it be the starter? Solenoid? +cable?

 

[wjburken]

I replaced the starter and it started right up. In fact I started it 3 times to make sure it wasn’t just a 1 and done starter from Amazon. About 4 hours later I went out to try it and the battery was almost completely drained. Could I have done something wrong or could it be the starter? Solenoid? +cable?

I would definitely double check all the connections you made just to make sure.

A few questions come to mind…

What starter did you get off of Amazon?

How long had the truck been sitting before you swapped the starter?

How long did you let the truck run when you started it the first 3 times?

How old is your battery?

 

[Fless]

Lots of starts with short running times won't charge the battery much, so either put a charger on it or run it longer. You could charge the battery with a charger and have it tested.

 

[roebro]

I would definitely double check all the connections you made just to make sure.

A few questions come to mind…

What starter did you get off of Amazon?

How long had the truck been sitting before you swapped the starter?

How long did you let the truck run when you started it the first 3 times?

How old is your battery?

Amazon Premier Gear PG-6757
4 days
30 seconds or so
battery is 6 months old