[cthompson07]

I had the slow crank / no start issue in September of last year. Replaced the original battery, added a ground from the body to the water pump, and it was great. Until about 3 weeks ago. Left me stranded at Jersey Mikes. Wouldn’t even start with an overnight charged battery.

My wife’s cousin works at a Chevy dealer so I got him to replace the starter for me. I also added another ground from the negative battery to the body in the trunk. The new starter sounds completely different. Much more high pitched, faster as well. Hopefully I don’t have any more issues with it, I was already disappointed having to replace the starter at 49k miles.

[SSDan]

Originally Posted by cthompson07

I had the slow crank / no start issue in September of last year. Replaced the original battery, added a ground from the body to the water pump, and it was great. Until about 3 weeks ago. Left me stranded at Jersey Mikes. Wouldn’t even start with an overnight charged battery.

My wife’s cousin works at a Chevy dealer so I got him to replace the starter for me. I also added another ground from the negative battery to the body in the trunk. The new starter sounds completely different. Much more high pitched, faster as well. Hopefully I don’t have any more issues with it, I was already disappointed having to replace the starter at 49k miles.

Just curious - are you the original owner? If not the prior owner may have had so many slow crank starts that the starter windings were damaged. A strong battery and a solid ground will only go so far if the starter has been weakened from too many heat-soaked start attempts. I am at 45K and so far keeping a fully charged battery and making sure the car is properly grounded has been enough.

I am glad you are back up and running. I also see we both live in the central SC area and have HBM 2016 SS's. Small world!

[cthompson07]

Originally Posted by SSDan

Just curious - are you the original owner? If not the prior owner may have had so many slow crank starts that the starter windings were damaged. A strong battery and a solid ground will only go so far if the starter has been weakened from too many heat-soaked start attempts. I am at 45K and so far keeping a fully charged battery and making sure the car is properly grounded has been enough.

I am glad you are back up and running. I also see we both live in the central SC area and have HBM 2016 SS's. Small world!

Very small world! Im in Lexington!

But no, I believe I am the second owner. I bought with 24k miles in 2020. It’s weird, both last year and this year, when I started having problems, the starter sounded the same until it suddenly decided it’s too hot. I think it died completely this time, my wife’s cousin who replaced it said it wouldn’t even try to crank the last time he tried to move the car. When I first got the issue again in June, even after charging the battery, it would still struggle to start, so I think it was just on its last leg.

[teddyca]

Well I think it finally bit me big time slow start for a good 10 seconds and then smoke under the hood smell like electrical assuming either the alternator or power wire going to the alternator we shall see

[-op-]

So next step is going to be getting a new battery. Still getting slow crank no starts about half the time. Other half is portable battery jumper doing the work. Starting to get rather peeved about a car I've had for less than 6 months and always keep on a battery tender.

If not, new starter or I may very well unload the car.

[teddyca]

Bro the job sucks ass big time, but replace the starter. It is definitely doable. I been dealing with slow starts for years. Replaced batteries, grounds everywhere, I finally replaced the starter and she is good as new. My car will set outside for weeks at a time and will fire right up now even if its 100 plus outside. I should of replaced years ago.

Originally Posted by -op-

So next step is going to be getting a new battery. Still getting slow crank no starts about half the time. Other half is portable battery jumper doing the work. Starting to get rather peeved about a car I've had for less than 6 months and always keep on a battery tender.

If not, new starter or I may very well unload the car.

[-op-]

Originally Posted by teddyca

Bro the job sucks ass big time, but replace the starter. It is definitely doable. I been dealing with slow starts for years. Replaced batteries, grounds everywhere, I finally replaced the starter and she is good as new. My car will set outside for weeks at a time and will fire right up now even if its 100 plus outside. I should of replaced years ago.

That's exactly what I was hoping not to hear. The thing that kills me is when its sat for a few days on a battery tender then slow cranks. I gotta wonder if my specific battery tender isn't good for it because if I put the portable jumper, it fires over immediately and with purpose.

What all has to get dropped or pulled to get to the starter? Mines an M6 car.

[teddyca]

Mine is a A8. Only 2 things that should be removed is the cradle deal which is just a bunch of bolts and it hooks in up front and the pass side precat. Search my threads, after I did it, I posted up the experience.

[ElCapitan13]

Originally Posted by SSDan

I'm so glad you got that tensioner and belt squared away! I added an update on the first post about a second ground I added to the battery and I reinforced the point to not take that tensioner bolt all the way out. Hopefully your reminder here at the end of the thread and my edited emphasis in the first thread will avoid any pain for fellow forum members.

Reviving this a good way in the future to say, I wish I would've checked here before I did the same thing and backed the bolt out all the way! I didn't bend it and was able to get everything re-installed without too terribly much trouble. Realized I needed a new serpentine belt anyway.

Still, not as easy as cutting to make a "U" instead of a circle. Oh well, strengthens the problem solving skills, right?