Intermittent Delayed Starts

[AK Kilted Guy]

Hello all. I have a 96, 3.4 V6, 5 speed that has been giving me some starting issues. Sometimes, with no rhyme or reason, it will not start when I turn the key. I'll get a click, sometimes a low whine/growl, and if I hold the key after 10-15 seconds it will start.

I replaced the starter, but that made no change.

Ideas?

 

[MyHigh]

Have you just tried starting it with the clutch cancel button and not depressing the clutch peddle? Any difference? ( make sure out of gear, please)

 

[AK Kilted Guy]

Have you just tried starting it with the clutch cancel button and not depressing the clutch peddle? Any difference? ( make sure out of gear, please)

Yeah. That was one of my first thoughts too. It makes no difference. It behaves the same whether or not I use the clutch override or push the clutch pedal in.

 

[MyHigh]

Dam I was hoping it was something as easy as the clutch pedal button. And You replaced the starter already, so next would be a bad/ loose ground. How does your power read? Have you taken any measurements?

Someone will chime in soon and get you on the right path,

 

[Frontier719]

mine was doing this a while back--I had a bad ground. I replaced the ground from the battery to the frame with a new wire and fittings and havent had any issues since. Maybe try cleaning the battery terminals?

 

[JayRolla]

Check voltage at battery when off. Should be at 12v. If not have battery tested. Check voltage when running. Should be 14+ volts. If not have alternator tested.

After market starters are not the best choice. Oems sometimes just need contacts replaced. Research replacing contacts on starters.

 

[AK Kilted Guy]

mine was doing this a while back--I had a bad ground. I replaced the ground from the battery to the frame with a new wire and fittings and havent had any issues since. Maybe try cleaning the battery terminals?

Can't hurt. I'll give that a go next. Thanks!

 

[AK Kilted Guy]

Believe it or not, I'm still fighting this issue. W not away for a while then started doing it again. I've replaced the starter relay, starter, and redid the negative terminal. Battery, alternator, and starter all tested ok. It starts eventually every time I try, but this is getting old.

 

[FauxRunner]

Believe it or not, I'm still fighting this issue. W not away for a while then started doing it again. I've replaced the starter relay, starter, and redid the negative terminal. Battery, alternator, and starter all tested ok. It starts eventually every time I try, but this is getting old.

Was this issue resolved? My 3rd gen won’t stop cranking! I went out to start and leave this morning (knowing it wouldn’t start on first turn of the key having had the same issue as the op). It cranked and started after the 4th attempt. But it would not stop cranking. I finally had to pull the negative battery terminal to stop it from cranking with the ignition key in my hand!