Turn key, have lights but no start?

[Classy Comanche]

So this morning I went to get in my truck to go to work. But when I turned the key it had a super slow crank but no start. Turned the key off then tried again. Nothing. It sounds like the starter is indeed engaging. Would this be a dead battery cause?

[cruiser54]

Yep. Dirty cables? 

[Classy Comanche]

The connectors I believe were cleaned from when I had my cooling issues and it spraying everywhere. If this also tells you anything, it was put in in 2013...yeah...it's been going strong. I last drove it 2 days ago on Wednesday. Thursday I did go anywhere and this morning I tried to crank it. At first the turn over was incredibly slow. Turned the key off then I had nothing. All I had was dash lights, radio, door buzzer and it sounded like the starter was doing all it could do in the video. So I'm going to get one today. Just suprised it lasted this long

[Classy Comanche]

Update: I have pulled the battery out and getting a new one. I also found this part just laying on the ground. What on earth is it?? It seems to have came out from this socket? It was just laying there when I looked at it again this morning 

[jdog]

You need a starter, that's the plunger to engage the starter to the flywheel.

[Classy Comanche]

Oh my lord. Wow, good thing I have a acdelco starter on hand....man. This threw me for a loop. Guess I'm having it towed and have the starter put on. It's so bizarre it was just laying on the ground

[gogmorgo]

I was going to ask if you’d gotten around to changing that starter out yet. 
As for the battery, nine years is a good long life. Pushing double what I would expect out of one. If it load tests fine, that’s one thing, but a weak battery that can’t deliver proper voltage at full load will be hard on both your starter and alternator. Your starter failure is more likely due to mechanical wear than the battery, but a weak battery will cause it to pull more current which can slowly cook it. It also makes the alternator work harder to keep it topped up. 
 

The battery is super easy to replace on your own. So is the starter. Even more convenient is you won’t need to disconnect the battery a second time if you do the starter while the battery is out. 
To change a starter:

disco the battery negative

Remove the big cable from the battery to the starter (at the starter end)

Remove the small wire (trigger) from the starter.

Remove the two bolts holding the starter onto the engine. Keep track of which bolt goes in which hole. Don’t let the starter land on your face if it wants to fall out.

If the starter didn’t just fall out when you pulled the bolts, wiggle it, smack it a hammer a few times, it should mostly come straight out but sometimes they need wiggled around to the exact angle.

Installing the new starter is as they say, reverse of removal. Wiggle it back into place until it’s sitting perfectly in the hole, and hold it there while you get the bolts started. Put them back in the same holes they came from. Put the trigger wire and battery cable back onto it. Hook the battery back up, looking for big sparks or any smoke to let you know something might have gone wrong. Go turn the key, marvel at how quickly the new starter turns over the engine, and spend a week or so being surprised by it actually doing what it’s supposed to before you get used to the new normal.

 

[Classy Comanche]

She's in the shop now. As soon as I showed that starter plunger the mechanic nodded and immediately said my starter kicked the bucket. Also when I was crammed up under it earlier a spring just slid out of the socket with no hesitation. I lifted the solenoid and it slid out and hit my arm. So I left him the truck, brand new Acdelco starter and I should be good to go. Made me mad more than anything because I missed work. But I'm excited to see how much better this starter does. Even the fella that towed me saw the starter solenoid hanging and said "oh that's why you can't run, starter is busted".

[Classy Comanche]

Update on this thread. So what happened was screws wiggled themselves out. One was gone. God knows where that one is. The other was holding on for deal life. What happened was my solenoid came off. The screws/bolts came out and it dumped out its internals. The plunger and some spring that outlined the inside of the cylinder. Runs and cranks so well it's unlike I've ever had, so smooth. Debating on taking the old starter apart and learn it. But wanted to let you fellas know on this thread. Any thread I try to bring it to a close with a fix

[VorTekX]

4 hours ago, Classy Comanche said:

Update on this thread. So what happened was screws wiggled themselves out. One was gone. God knows where that one is. The other was holding on for deal life. What happened was my solenoid came off. The screws/bolts came out and it dumped out its internals. The plunger and some spring that outlined the inside of the cylinder. Runs and cranks so well it's unlike I've ever had, so smooth. Debating on taking the old starter apart and learn it. But wanted to let you fellas know on this thread. Any thread I try to bring it to a close with a fix

Had a similar situation but it turned out it was my battery, thank God. But if I ever get no crank and see a plunger like that lying on the ground I know where to look next

[NHMJXJ]

What's the going price for a decent starter?  I looked it up and I believe 56041014AB is the OEM part number for mine.  A quick internet search has prices from

$50 to $150.   Anyone have recommendations?

 

 

[cruiser54]

buy locally.

[NHMJXJ]

22 hours ago, cruiser54 said:

buy locally.

 

Do you have a recommendation for a starter I can buy locally?

[cruiser54]

Got a NAPA?

[NHMJXJ]

Plenty of sources, what's a good starter for the money?

18 hours ago, cruiser54 said:

Got a NAPA?

Plenty of sources, what's a good starter for the money?

[cruiser54]

who knows anymore? 

[Pete M]

at this point, I think the key getting one local with a warranty so it's easy to replace.