Slow Sluggish Start
 

Hey guys! long time not talk! whats it been, 4 years!?
Well I still have my blazer and something I cant quite put my finger on this time is happening. (1998 LT 4.3 V6)
This started about a week ago and is gradually getting worse, when I try to start up the Blazer it is very slow to turn over, not trying to crank, not cranking over and over just painfully slow like its not going to turn over but then does. Once started the truck is perfectly fine, no unusual issues (it has issues but nothing new I don't know about LOL).

One would suspect the batter is going bad but it is under a year old, I have tested the battery while running, with the truck on but not started and also turning the lights on and off and the batter is totally fine.....I have checked the cables at the battery and the starter....there is one thing I have noticed and that is that the positive terminal has been stripped, it connects pretty tight but I am wondering if that could be the issue or if the cable itself needs replacing. The battery is still under warranty so I am going to get a new one after work....hopefully that is the issue but I am trying to be proactive if not, see what you guys think.

A little info:
The Alternator is only about 5 years old...I replaced that when it went out....the fuel injector is about 8 years old, I also replaced that Fuel filter is about 7 years old, spark plugs and wire about 6 years old (all ac delco parts).....put in a new cap and rotor last night (second time replacing the rotor in the last 8 years)

I have two codes right now, one for the EGR and another for the 02 sensor (I have to replace this sensor every 6 months to a year because the dumb dumb who had her before me warped the pipe probably trying to get the sensor out while it was hot....no big deal, its easy and I do it when I see it acting up) I have ordered the ac delco EGR from gmpartsdirect and that should be here in a week.....I don't think those things are part of the issue even though that darn 02 can cause weird things to happen.

There is a short some how with the door locks (not the rear hatch) I replace the fuse and every about 10 times I lock and unlock the doors remotely it pops, I have ordered new relay, maybe that is the issue with that.


Any ideas would be awesome, thanks guys!

What is the voltage at the battery post and at the starter on the large red battery cable during this sluggish cranking? What was the voltage there before you started cranking?

12 before, 10 during crank, 12 after

You may try hooking up with a voltmeter directly to a power terminal on a starter. But since there is a direct wire coming from a battery you either have a contact dirty on starter (a simple cleaning, not an easy access though) or a dying starter. In my city they rebuild starter for a $50 or so.

Thanks Mike, I was thinking maybe the connection was bad at the starter....a bad starter I am not as convinced, I have never seen a starter slowly go out like this but more like just one day wont start and is done....I am not a professional so I don't know for sure but I will try a couple things with the battery and connections before spending the money on a starter....luckily its not crazy difficult to replace those so I am not so worried about the job itself, I just hope it doesn't take a dump on me before I figure it out :/

Given 10V at the starter during crank its most likely what Mike said. What the voltage at the positive battery post during crank?

George

Well, it was my starter....swapped it out and it's running great! Thanks guys. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...c3346eed0b.jpg