battery or starter or ? problem help request

[Dennis94XLT]

I obviously have a 94 Explorer XLT and a problem with it.

Believe it or not - it has the original factory battery and up to 3 months ago, the truck has had no problems with starting. At first, I noticed it would start real hard (almost like it had water in a cylinder) after sitting about 5 minutes after stopping the engine - but did always start. It does not loose coolant and no steam is coming out of the tailpipe (mileage is 79k)

Two weeks ago, it started fine in the morning and I went to work, I came home, stopped the engine long enough to unlock the gate, and the engine cranked like the battery was almost dead - then the solenoid clicked. I found what appears to be corrosion on the negative terminal - so I took it apart and cleaned it up and put it back. I still noticed the slow starting when the engine has just been shut off and is being restarted and today it would not start again at my driveway entrance.

I've checked all the connections and all is tight. If the battery was bad, I would expect it to have trouble starting after sitting overnight - not the opposite. I wonder if the starter is having a problem with engine heat.

Does anyone have any experience with something like this?

 

[Robb]

Check the battery cables. On early Xs, they are notorious for corroding from the inside out. Also, after 8 years, a new battery would be worth your while.

Welcome To The Site!!!

Robb

 

[ld50]

I had a similiar problem recently.
My truck would just click when I tried the key. I push jumped it and got it home and the next day it fired right up, then turned over a little slower and finally wouldn`t start. Got new connections for the battery cable ends-no worky- bench tested the starter and they said it was fine. Reinstalled and it turned over kinda slow and started. Tried again - no worky.

Bought new starter, works fine now for a week anyway.
They had a note in the box stating that 92-93 Explorers and Navahos will exhibit a no start condition because the cables corrode excessively.
My grapevine connection said he heard that this is to do with a dead air space around the battery on these years due to the way things were positioned in the engine compartment. The acid vapor kind of hangs around there, eating stuff.

I always heard if your battery is gone you can tell, if it has been on a charger for a while and the current draw will not drop below 10 amps. My last battery did this when it packed it in.

Or throw a buddy`s battery in there that you know is good.
I can`t believe your battery is that old! I would say it is time to get one anyway to keep yourself from getting stranded anyway.

-and yes, welcome

 

[Howard]

This is going to sound funny but it could just be that the battery is defective and when hot is shorting out one cell. If you have the top up caps take them off and crank the engine if any bubbles appear then thats the dead cell. That would explain why when you rest it overnight that it appears ok. It's also possible that the alternator is putting out full charge all the time and that is what is overheating the battery. You would probably get other things blowing like fuses/bulbs. All the best.

 

[zekex2]

clean both terminal
check h2o level and check specific gravity with a hygrometer ( squeeze bulb jobby).
check voltage across the terminals w/ cables off 12.5 vdc-11.5 vdc anything less is bad batt.
reconnect batt start X test voltage while running . should be 13+ vdc if at idle. not more than mid 13's not less than 13. if not in parameters look long and hard at alt.
if these are all good check starter.

I have to do tis with my twin batt system on my diesel trk every year. I buy batts. starters. and alts. at auto zone they have warrentied 4 starters 2 batts, and 32 altinators in 5 years. I havn't been able to beat thaat deal any were else. I kill this stuff regularly.

good luck

 

[Robb]

be 13+ vdc if at idle. not more than mid 13's not less than 13.

actually, Xs charge at about 14.5 volts at idle.

I wouldn't even mess with checking the battery. It is 8 years old, it has served its purpose. It IS going to let you down anyday now, if it isn't right now. Basically, the same philosophy should be used with the cables also, and they are cheap.

Robb