Thread: Slow start

Maybe completely unrelated, but my 86 carbie Rangie used to be very slow to start - hot or cold, but usually 3 or 4 seconds of cranking. Turned out it was the Lucas starter. It finally died, and I replaced it with a reduction drive starter (OEX brand), and after that it fired instantly - every time. The new starter turns the engine over many times faster.

Like I said, could be unrelated, but does the motor turn over slowly?

While mine doesn't take 7-10 sec, around 5sec is the norm.

Funnily enough, if I stop cranking in that 5sec period then hit the starter again, it'll normally fire right up. I've heard of others doing the same thing so it may just be a characteristic.

It could also be dropping fuel pressure & you need to have the pump running for a few seconds before she'll get some pressure up. Try cycling the ignition a few times before actually getting the engine cranking over & see if that makes a difference.

Hi basicat,
My Lucas starter expired some years ago and the replacement el cheapo went for about 12 months and the present one has been in there for a couple of years now and I really cannot tell the difference in the cranking speeds,they all seemed pretty fast.Maybe current draw?Every now and then it starts like a bought one.Still stumped.

Regards, Greybeard

Hi Scouse, it is the same on lpg so I think it eliminates the petrol parts.
Thanks, Greybeard

Where's the ignition module?
How many pins?
General discription if you can.

G`day greybeard ,

I`d suggest you charge your battery to full charge ( if you have a charger )

If you try this and it starts easily ,
the battery may seen good but it`s not 100% or the charging systems not quite right or maybe there is too much current loss when cranking .

This would be more so if when you release the key on cranking it tries to fire .

Another odd thing they do is the tabs on the back of the ignition switch can over the yrs come loose and pushing the key in and turning can dislodge the innards . The switch is on the opposite side to the key .

Sometimes it`s possible to put the key in the ignition turn till the idiots light up and wriggle and push the key , if the lights flicker or go out , good chance the switch is loosing contact , usually can be just crimped back together if the case .

I replaced the Lucas ignition amplifier with a Bosch one some time ago.
Thank you Bee utey.
I charged the battery overnight and lo and behold,the truck started within a couple of seconds.I would never have picked the battery as it always seemed to have plenty of oomph. I also jiggled with the key and all seemed
OK in that department. I will get the battery tested tomorrow and see what happens.
Thanks everybody, Greybeard