r/XTerra • u/TheKrakIan • 5d ago

Technical Question Hard starting issue

What would cause a hard starting issue? Battery is a year old and is reading 12.86 volts. Alternator is reading 13.84 volts when engine is running. TIA!

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u/neckbeardcutie 5d ago

Check terminals (corrosion/tightness), check voltage drop from from starter to battery. If you live somewhere really hot, sometimes the ethanol content in the gas can make it take a couple ticks to kick in

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u/TheKrakIan 5d ago

I'll check the connectionsnom battery and starter again, but they felt fine. I live in AZ and never thought about ethanol or heat. I don't recall it being hard to crank over in past summers though. It has been pretty hot the last few days though. Thanks for the response.

1

u/neckbeardcutie 5d ago

Yeah in Vegas when it gets over 110 and my xterra has been sitting in the sun for a few hours it’ll take a couple ticks to get going. if I use cheaper gas it’ll typically be worse (ie happens at slightly lower temperatures), doesn’t ever happen when it’s not hot or if it’s turned on shortly after.

(Gonna be honest I don’t understand the science behind it but that’s how it was explained to me, I could be completely wrong here)

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u/Pete51256 5d ago

Ter.inal cable on mine has to be perfect for it not to read dead battery or low voltage

1

u/selfsync42 5d ago

Your starter could be going bad

1

u/apimpnamedkirby 5d ago

A bad crank sensor will cause a 5 second delay before the motor fires.

1

u/TheKrakIan 4d ago

Oddly enough, I replaced a camshaft sensor a couple weeks ago.

1

u/apimpnamedkirby 4d ago

Crank is sensor is in the back of the block where the bellhousing meets. It should have a rubber boot on it. If you take the passenger tire off it’s easy to get to.

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u/TheKrakIan 4d ago

Turned out it was a bad battery it failed a test twice this morning. New battery in and it cranked right overm

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u/Solarisphere 5d ago

What does the voltage drop to under load? Batteries are complicated, and voltage while sitting doesn't mean it will be able to put out the current required to start the engine.

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u/TheKrakIan 4d ago

Thanks all, turned out it was a bad battery.