Questions!

[chevhead]

Hey everyone, I'm new to both this site and diesels in general. I have always been a big fan of chevy's so it wasn't hard to decide what I wanted when I decided to go diesel. My chevy is a 2000 3500 Crw Cab. Its been an awesome first week, but I notice she doesnt like to start right up, even when shes been plugged in, the starter sounds similar to the sound a starter makes when a "going dead" battery in a gas car is started, and I have been letting it prime. I live in the mountains so it gets cold here, but I don't know that that is the problem. When it does finally start, big black diesel smoke clouds come out (cool but troublesome I think). I also have about an inch worth of play in the steering wheel, and she is all stock. Any help would be appreciated, and as a side note, I am not technically familiar to the engine yet, but Im good with gas motors, so feel free to elaborate if Im looking at something that I would not find on a gas engine.

[hraney]

FIrst thing I would check is the "Stacked" battery cable on the passenger side battery. I don't know why GM did this but those things corrode something fierce. If left alone you will soon be starting on one battery. This is usually fine in the Summer but when Old Man Winter comes to town you are in for much wailing and gnashing of teeth (usually the first cold morning you are running late already). Also sounds like you may need a set of glow plugs or controller if the engine is turning over quite a bit before starting. The cloud of black smoke is unburnt fuel which may be building up from cranking on it a lot before finally busting off. How many miles on it and have you checked your fuel mileage? I have a 97 K3500 Crew Cab and I have been averaging about 12.5mpg. I hope that goes up a bit since adding a 4" exhaust and aftermarket intake.

[chevhead]

Appreciate the insight I will take a look at that, and the truck's mileage is currently 104,226. My mpg has been awesome, somewhere around 18 mpg and I'm driving up and down the mountains (and like I said its completely stock). I really want to add a system I found too, its got a 4in exhaust, gauges, a new computer module,and intake. I have heard that marine injectors, intercooler,and a boost chip are good ways to go from there, but the pyro and boost gauges are recommended first. As you can tell I'm stoked about this truck, unfortunately I'm still in college so all these additions will take me a year to beat out of the ole wallet. If only money grew on trees.:D

[sixnickel]

Just like Hraney said check the battery connections, cables and grounds! Also check the batterys. One of them could be bad both could be bad load test them. if you replace them don't be cheep! Buy the best you can at least 800CCA (cold crank amps). You can have the best IP, injectors, glow plugs etc. But it must spin over to start! Good Luck!

[6.5 rookie]

I had the same problem. Replaced with new batteries (needed them anyway) and it ended up being the starter. It was drawing way too much and the batteries even on jumper cables couldnt turn the girl over enough to start. Test your batteries as others requested an stacked terminals, and if they are OK, check the starter. Just a thought

[nathan]

i agree i had replaced my batteries and was eaven thinking about replacing my alternator because she was barley hitting 14 whial driving. then one cold morning i came out and to my horrer noticed that she was not pluged in. :confused: so i tryed to start her with no go, i then pluged it in and threw some cables on her to help out the batteries it took about an hour before she finaly lit up and by that time the starter was making very bad noises. i went to the shop and my boss who alos has a few 6.5s had a spare starter that he said i could have. we put it on and she has been starting much easyer sence and also my volt meter has been running higher.
so that would be a good next step. walt has then at ssdiesel for about 100 dollers less then most parts stores.

[chevhead]

That last post brings up another question then. When I prime the truck, it never charges the volt meter to a full 14, but once it is running it runs above that slightly, good or bad? I checked my terminals, no corrosion, I haven't had time to test the batteries but they look new, if it is the starter, how hard is it to do the swap on my own?

[scoobert]

just had this prob, i replaced, batts, alternator (shot anyhow), tensioner pully. then one day when i came home for lunch it wouldent start. i had it towed and had the starter rebuilt. strats without the glow plugs getting warm now it cranks so fast. its two bolts but you will get filthy doing it, pay a shop $60 and have them do it like i did. do it before it stops starting like mine. your bill should be less then $200 before your starter is done.

as far as charging, i replaced my alt with a 140 amp unit, and it still only stays above 14 until the bat comes up to charge then drops below 14 to about 13.5. and stays there. its fine, thou annoying with the lights on when the abs kicks in.

moral: swap the starter, all is fine!