2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

What would cause slow engine cranking?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 27, 2006 | 10:47 PM
  #1  
R.P.M.'s Avatar
Thread Starter
Likes to swear....alot
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,791
Likes: 3
From: Kitchener Ontario Canada
What would cause slow engine cranking?

Ok, I have this S4 N/A FC here that cranks over just slow enough that it wont start and then it floods.

I've changed the starter 3 times with spares that I have sitting around and I've cleaned all the connections to the starter and on the battery itself. The battery is around 13v and has lots of power.

What else would cause it to crank over slow? I'm kinda stumped....doesn't really help that its late either.

Joe
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2006 | 11:22 PM
  #2  
getbent69's Avatar
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Adelaide, Australia
What does the battery voltage drop to when you crank and how is it?
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2006 | 11:31 PM
  #3  
misterstyx69's Avatar
Retired Moderator, RIP
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (142)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 25,581
Likes: 136
From: Smiths Falls.(near Ottawa!.Mapquest IT!)
Clean the Area around the Starter,and "scuff up " the Bolt holes,to get a good contact to Ground,(maybe Clean the thread For the bolts by Retapping them)also Try changing The Positive cable..it sounds like it just ain't gettin Good voltage Joe..Other than that..Another starter?..Just thought too..check the bolts on the Tranny maybe they are loose and not giving you good conductivity..(all I can think of Joe ..)
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2006 | 11:56 PM
  #4  
brap-brap-brap
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 287
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA
Yep - sounds like an electrical problem. Not enough voltage. Either its your battery or the connections.
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2006 | 12:06 AM
  #5  
R.P.M.'s Avatar
Thread Starter
Likes to swear....alot
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,791
Likes: 3
From: Kitchener Ontario Canada
Yeah I guess I'll have to trace all the wiring back to the starter, the car never ever did crank over all that fast since the guy got the car.
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2006 | 08:58 AM
  #6  
hondahater's Avatar
spending too much money..
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,117
Likes: 1
From: louisiana
well I'm having the same issue on an intermittant level and basically what made it better was cleaning the main stock ground as well as adding another body ground from the battery using a nice big 4 guage cable. Next I'm going to try to change my ignition switch.
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2006 | 09:04 AM
  #7  
The Wankler's Avatar
FKITALL
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 2
From: Dublin Ca.
Mine does the same thing. Voltage drops to about 7.v when I am cranking it.
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2006 | 05:43 PM
  #8  
R.P.M.'s Avatar
Thread Starter
Likes to swear....alot
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,791
Likes: 3
From: Kitchener Ontario Canada
Yeah, actually I just tried it again and the stock amps gauge drops to about 7 volts as well.....hmmmm
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2006 | 05:56 PM
  #9  
The Wankler's Avatar
FKITALL
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 2
From: Dublin Ca.
.Well, I have done a battery relocation, and added a ton of electronics. Have you tested the voltage at the battery? Hailer, I think mentioned, or maybe it was Icemark. Test the battery terminals for a drop. Then test the battery clamps. If the battery drains, could be the battery. If only drains at the connectors, something else.
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2006 | 08:10 PM
  #10  
trainwreck517's Avatar
Rx-hippie
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 0
From: Torrance CA
How many cranking amps is the battery, and how cold is it when your trying to crank it?

I would just add a nice fat engine ground directly from the battery.
Change the cable connectors for the battery.
Clean the Battery terminal post.

If is still doing it, I would verifie that the starter inductance is up to spec.

Hope that helps.
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2006 | 08:16 PM
  #11  
jgrts20's Avatar
Who are you?
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,235
Likes: 0
From: CenCal
mines does the same thing when its really cold out, but when warmed up it will start fine all day. Its just that sittng around at night when cold that does it.

Last edited by jgrts20; Apr 28, 2006 at 08:45 PM.
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2006 | 08:42 PM
  #12  
KompressorLOgic's Avatar
I
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 12
From: Spanaway, WA
dang mine never drops that low while cranking i see 10 at least
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2006 | 01:45 AM
  #13  
gxlspeeder's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 732
Likes: 0
From: idaho
take your battery to a parts store and have them actually test how much power is in it. 13 volts won't turn an engine over 400+ cranking amps will.
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2006 | 06:43 PM
  #14  
R.P.M.'s Avatar
Thread Starter
Likes to swear....alot
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,791
Likes: 3
From: Kitchener Ontario Canada
LOL...yeah I got it figured out, whoever put the clutch in the car last, never put that big ground wire back onto the bellhousing.

Now it works awesome, starts up great and runs waaay better.

Thanks for the info guys!
Reply
Old May 1, 2020 | 09:03 PM
  #15  
thomas walker's Avatar
New to the Club!
 
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: pa
Originally Posted by R.P.M.
LOL...yeah I got it figured out, whoever put the clutch in the car last, never put that big ground wire back onto the bellhousing.

Now it works awesome, starts up great and runs waaay better.

Thanks for the info guys!
that was it. Just had new clutch and ground was not reconnected to bell housing. Great troubleshooting.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
trickster
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
25
Jul 1, 2023 04:40 PM
freq
Microtech
1
Aug 23, 2015 11:02 AM
PhillyFC
General Rotary Tech Support
9
Aug 21, 2015 06:36 PM
freq
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
0
Aug 21, 2015 03:30 PM
befarrer
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
4
Aug 14, 2015 04:18 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:24 AM.