1st gen starting problem

Sometimes my 2002 3.4 V6 (260k miles, orig starter) cranks slowly and starter sounds weird. Let off key, and try again, starts normally. Can happen at any time of day or first thing in morning. Anyone experience this and solve it ?

 

Probably start taking some preventative steps- replace or rebuild your starter if you're able to do that, inspect or replace the battery cables, and have the battery tested.

 

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Agree with above, replace the starter contacts first, relativly easy job depending on you skills/toolbox. If she is an automatic try it in neutral, the wire that energizes the solinoid on the starter has a pretty long path to go before it gets to the starter. If you are familiar with a voltage drop test preform that to get to the root of the problem, if not, there are many youtube videos explaing/showing how to do it. I think you are looking for a "magic bullet" answer but there just isnt one, it can be many things that can cause this and it can be multiple things so if you find one thing that is questionable and you repair that and it still acts up, just keep diagnosing.

 

Replacing the starter contacts is easy. Getting the starter out of a V6 is a bitch and reinstalling it isn't much easier. I've done it twice on my truck. If you have a long handled 3/8" ratchet drive (14-18 inches) and a 14mm socket you can remove the bolts without having to put a buttload of extensions on your tool.

Kits are available for around $25 on the internet and they include a variety of contacts along with the plunger. You'll need to know if you have a 1400 watt or an 1800 watt starter when you order them.

If your starter turns the engine, albeit slowly, then I wouldn't think that the contacts need replacing. Usually when they begin to go out, you turn the key and nothing happens. No click, no noise, no nothing. My first set went out at 60K miles, and I just replaced those at 120K miles "just because".