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Car Takes a while to start but cranks fine.

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h3nry8888

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
This has happened twice. Car has about 79000km.

It was about -2 degrees Cel outside, not too bad at all.

I tried to turn ON the car with the key, I can hear the car cranking no problem. But I have to hold the key for literrally 6-7 seconds before it starts up. This happened only twice.

Battery is stock and fine as lights are all bright, not dim. Ive started the car up at -20 degrees Cel and it was fine.

It only happened twice, at very random times.

Anyone else? Can it be a starter that is about to go?

I still have powertrain, thats it.
 
#2 ·
Well when it's happening has it been sitting in the cold for a long time? Because I know that if the engine is really cold it takes a few extra seconds to start. My Pat has just under 9k miles and it's done that to me one time. It happened to be a very cold night though

Just my opinion though
 
#3 ·
h3nry8888, rule out an over-the-hill OEM battery possibility? Have your original battery tested, cheap; or DIY with a volt meter. This is an easier test than pulling the starter apart. I never had a starter replaced in any of my previous cars. Starters can take lotsa beating.

We can bet that OEM batteries have the most cost-savings specs for the auto mfrs. They seems to have the uncanny tendency to fail shortly after the initial warranty period!?

http://www.wheels.ca/reviews/article/794137
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Car was parked maybe 3-4 hours after a drive, I drive it everyday. Never left. I can understand if its cold like -20 and havent touched in a few days, but we are talking about a few hours. i will test it out with a voltmeter? What should it be?

12V or more?

Whats the minimum voltage on the battery before it will struggle to start?
 
#7 ·
h3nry8888 said:
That I havent tried. Any recommendation on brand and type? I hear iridium is good but when i go to Canadian Tire the only ones available are the Bosh Copper-Plus? The cheap stuff...
Click to expand...
from what i've heard on this site, you should put the same one that the original when you bought the Jeep, the other plugs seems to cause firing problem.
 
#8 ·
Did it happen when it was cold out, and after you drove the vehicle for a short period of time? Longer drives charge the battery up better than short drives, and if it is colder outside, battery performance is reduced even more. So maybe a short drive in the cold drained the battery a bit, then you went to start it later and it had a hard time.

Just a thought. It could explain the random occurrences
 
#9 ·
DIY battery test

h3nry8888..i will test it out with a voltmeter? What should it be?
Click to expand...
Testing voltage of a battery is a bit tricky on first try. There's link below that will explain the whole 9 yards in geeky details. But let me cut to the chase and simplify the DIY test procedure. FWIW. You could do the measurement using a Scangauge without hooking up a voltmeter under the hook.

Textbooks often mentioned two basic voltage parameters for the typical 12v OEM flooded lead acid batteries:

(a) A healthy 12v battery @ 100% State of Charge (SOC), standardized measure to 12.65 volts at 80 deg F (26.7 C).

(b) Trying to start a car with 11.8 volts or less is iffy. That's 40% SOC at 80 F


Simplified voltage and SOC measurement method

1/ The battery fluid needs 4+ hrs at park to settle/mix evenly for an accurate voltage reading.

2/ Note the outside temperature.

3/ Record the voltage from the meter, to 2 decimal places if possible.

4/ Do a bit of math to compensate/adjust for temperature to estimate the SOC. A standardized voltage of 12.42 is 80% SOC may be ok in warmth; But iffy in the cold.


Temperature Compensation for the actual voltage reading

Textbooks: Cold outside temp causes battery voltage to drop 0.010 v for every 1 F deg. In metric the drop is 0.018 v per 1 C deg.

For example: What is the temperature compensated voltage in -3 C temp? Using metric.

The temp drop 26.7 - (-3) is about 30 C degrees colder than the standard 26.7 C.

So the voltage drop due to cold temp is 30 C x 0.018 v/C = 0.54 v

Finally we add 0.54 v to the actual voltage reading; and compare this compensated voltage to the SOC table.


h3nry8888, take some voltage readings first thing in the morning, crank thru the math, and see what SOC your battery can hold. If it's in the iffy area, get the pro to test it again, and compare. BTW a chart of SOC and voltages is in the following battery-geek link..

http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volt.htm

Starter test is outta my DIY league...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABdgkHI8qSs
 
#12 ·
ti-claude31 said:
from what i've heard on this site, you should put the same one that the original when you bought the Jeep, the other plugs seems to cause firing problem.
Click to expand...
I have a set of platinums on mine and have never had any issues. Performance, mileage, etc. are exactly the same as copper. The only difference is that I don't have to change them every 30,000 miles.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
So I decided to test battery with the multimeter. These are the results after the car sat for 3 hours after abount 25km of driving.

Temperature was about -4 degrees celsius

12.85v when car is off with no key in ignition.


14.4v when cars is turned on.

I will have to run those numbers through the article above about batterys.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
kb01 said:
I have a set of platinums on mine and have never had any issues. Performance, mileage, etc. are exactly the same as copper. The only difference is that I don't have to change them every 30,000 miles.
Click to expand...
I called up Jeep yeaturday and questioned different spark plug types including the platinum and iridum. I was told by the guy on the phone that those 2 types of spark plugs run "hotter" whatever that means and said it can lead to head gasket problems down the road. He said its rare and ok to change to and of course better performance and lifespan. But he suggested me change to the regular copper ones and change them more frequently than get the better stuff.

Now I'm confused and undecided.
 
#16 ·
I have this same thing on my Caliber.

'07 Caliber with 49,500km on it

i've replaced the battery, but its done it a couple times since then. At 50000km you are supposed to change the plugs, and I need to get a chance to do that and see if it makes a difference. I'm hoping it cures the issue.
 
#17 ·
I have this
 
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