98 explorer, weird cranking problem broke my starter!

[Glocklimited9]

Hey guys, I have a weird cranking trouble in my 98 v6. The truck will be cranking fine, and then it starts to crank hard like the timing is off. This started a few weeks ago, but it's intermittent, the past few days it got worse and it finally broke the starter today.

The truck is throwing no codes. It's not a battery or voltage issue, almost wondering if I have a leaky injector that's filling the cylinder with fuel. Or if some reason the Ecu is losing #1 cyl or advancing the timing like crazy while cranking

Truck runs fine when it starts.

 

[Glocklimited9]

anyone??

 

[Rickademus]

Well you got a new starter now so thats good. I would check your battery cables even perhaps adding a new ground cable to the motor. I added one from the - neg terminal and to the AC bracket and it made a difference to cold crank. The cables are getting old on your truck new ones will help i think. I want to add a new + positive cable but i havent got round to it yet.
I am assuming your battery and motor are fully serviced plugs filters etc

 

[arco777]

Hey guys, I have a weird cranking trouble in my 98 v6. The truck will be cranking fine, and then it starts to crank hard like the timing is off. This started a few weeks ago, but it's intermittent, the past few days it got worse and it finally broke the starter today.

The truck is throwing no codes. It's not a battery or voltage issue, almost wondering if I have a leaky injector that's filling the cylinder with fuel. Or if some reason the Ecu is losing #1 cyl or advancing the timing like crazy while cranking

Truck runs fine when it starts.

When you say it cranks hard, do you mean it cranks slowly or seems like it is loading up with fuel?

One thing worth looking at if you're expecting an ignition issue is to check the crank position sensor pickup. If the hall effect sensor gets damaged by debris, weakened by age, or bent away from the trigger, it could be getting a very weak signal to the PCM. An intermittent signal can slow your start.

Starters are pretty tough, how did yours break? Did it get hot from cranking and melt a connection, or did something mechanically give way? Might have had a bad starter.