Hi all
My truck is having some difficulty starting at bellow freezing temps. Each time this is what happens, wheather I use the remote start or not.
If truck sits overnight at bellow zero, I turn the key and the starter spins but does not contact the freewheel. Wait a second and turn key again and off she goes, starts no problem. So why is this happening? Its as if the battery had more power the second time around.
Also, can the remote starter be draining the battery when sitting just overnight? Is that normal for some remote starters to do that?
Thanks for your time,
by the way, the starter is a year old and I just replaced the battery yesterday
Was it doing this before the starter was replaced? The starter spinning and not connecting to the flywheel seems like the shaft where the drive rides is gummed up or hanging up there for some reason.
No remote start should drain the battery. Have you disconnected it to see if it indeed is what the draw is? You could have something else draining the battery.
Yes, this hapenned with the old starter once in a while, this is what got me into checking the starter in the first place about 2 years ago. The brushes were almost fully worn out, so I assumed this was the cause but as it was only once in a while I drove it for another year or so untill one day it failed completely so I replaced the starter.
I drove it on the highway today to make sure the new battery is now fully charged and will see what it does tomorrow. If its the same, I will take out the 2 fuses in the remote starter wiring (this should kill all power to it, right) and see what happens the next morning.
Any idea why its the second start that always works?
If truck sits overnight at bellow zero, I turn the key and the starter spins but does not contact the freewheel. Wait a second and turn key again and off she goes, starts no problem. So why is this happening? Its as if the battery had more power the second time around.
To me, its sounds like the starter is cold nature'd. Could also be a bendix (starter drive) going bad.
Driving it won't completely charge the battery. If you have a trickle charger, put it on for 24hrs and then have the battery checked for amps. It couuld just be a weak battery. The starter could be as jwko mentioned.
Sorry jwko, not sure what cold nature'd means. I did go out and tried to start it now with the same result, so I completely disconnected the remote start module. Will trickle charge over night and see what it does tomorrow and will get the battery tested, I guess even a new one can be bad.
OK, on charger now, its a 6 amp charger so not a trickle charge, but to my surprise the gauge on the charger shows only about 50% charged, the battery is brand new! live & learnI guess.
It was the starter all along, and its only a year old. I took it in to get it tested and it failed to crank over, the parts store had a hard time believing I actually started my truck with it at all. Still in warranty so all it well again.
Thanks for all your help.
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