VT Hesitation on start

[Tsunamix]

Ok its a reasonabley well looked after with a few mods.

Insert key, turn to start position, engine does a half rotation then pauses for about 3 seconds then turns over.

Only does it on odd occasions. Battery is about a year old, and starts normally about 2 in 3. No other glitches, faults hesitations or pauses. It makes me wonder if I have a battery cell problem, as the last battery started doing this more often before id died. Only trouble is, it's a relatively new battery.

I keep thing that the alternator isnt charging well, yet 'm getting no fault codes or any other signs of poor battery charge.

I guess the windings in the starter could be old....As far as I know its the original starter (july 99 build).

Anyone else have any thoughts ?

[delcowizzid]

leaking injector or inlet gasket filling a cylinder with fuel maybe.my vn does the same thing part crank compresses whatever is in there then turns normal speed sometimes worse than others depending on if it has been warmed up and pressurised the coolant system ide say inlt manifold gasket would be a good place to start not slowly loosing coolant over a few weeks

[Tsunamix]

Not loosing coolant, leaking injector is possible I guess. Fuel is incompressible though so if it was really full, it would lock the engine solid....

I think ?

[50LTRv8]

Could be fuel pump or blocked fuel filter. The fuel pump should keep the fuel rail full of fuel and under pressure for the next start.

I am guessing that the fuel is being pumped from the tank, therefore taking that 3 seconds to get to the rail to start the car.

You could do the filter first and then the pump though.

[Tsunamix]

This is possible, but its not failing to fire, its failing to turn over, like the starter has no grunt for a couple of seconds.

Still checking pump and filtyer is always a good thing

[jchar46]

hey mate, my old mans vx was doin this. turned out it was the solenoids on the starter. put a new one in and good as new.

[immortality]

is it possible for you to test the battery voltage? check the voltage when cranking. it should stay above 12volts.

i bough a "new" battery last year and it's aready showing signs of needing replacment. the problem with batteries bought from your standard automotive outlet is that they can sit on the shelf for a long time which just isn't that good for em.

also check the resting voltage. check 1/2hr after shutting down the engine. if you check it straight after it will read high.

may as well check the alternator whilst your at it. hook volt meter up across the battery. check starting voltage drop. then see what he voltage is with engine running. really should see 13.8-14.2volts. if it is less, check the voltage across the alternator (from altenator positive output to altenator body) it should be 14-14.3volts. if there is a significant difference between the battery and the alternor you have a wiring issue. if alternator and battery are with .2-.3volt of each other then thats about normal. then check the system voltage under load (switch on headlights, aircon, demister etc) it should still maintain the voltage within .3 -.5volt of low load voltage.

[Tsunamix]

Heh. Batteries are something I work with every day. I work with UPS's. Yes I checke dteh batteries and I don't buy them retail so a bit of a bonus there.

A lead acid battery that has not been used for 6 months has an 80% greater chance to fail than one that has.

we recharge all batteries in stock every 4 months, with a charge, 30% drain, full charge and float cycle.

I checked my battery out. 13.9 at idle.12.6 at cold crank (188cold crank amp via a caliper) 14.4 at 2000rpm. battery seems good.

bet its the starter solenoid. Not sure how though, thought solenoids were on or off. Anyway solenoids are cheap so thats worth a look.

[youknowmelyricz]

Sounds to be the solinoid... Happend to me,I just put new starter(u need solinoid) Fixed prob!!

[customvt]

hey mate, my old mans vx was doin this. turned out it was the solenoids on the starter. put a new one in and good as new.

that was the same problem i had and the same solution to fix

[180sc]

had same problem changed the battery problem solved. it wont be solinoid cause that just throws the gear out to engage the flywheel/flex plate.

[whsroadie]

Ok its a reasonabley well looked after with a few mods.

Insert key, turn to start position, engine does a half rotation then pauses for about 3 seconds then turns over.

Only does it on odd occasions. Battery is about a year old, and starts normally about 2 in 3. No other glitches, faults hesitations or pauses. It makes me wonder if I have a battery cell problem, as the last battery started doing this more often before id died. Only trouble is, it's a relatively new battery.

I keep thing that the alternator isnt charging well, yet 'm getting no fault codes or any other signs of poor battery charge.

I guess the windings in the starter could be old....As far as I know its the original starter (july 99 build).

Anyone else have any thoughts ?

mine used to do the same thing so i bit the bullet and replace the starter motor now it starts like dream