Truck wouldn't start. Starter rebuild

New battery, big 3 upgrade, 3000w inverter used kinda heavily lately (truck always running). She started fine this morning but lately on a cold start I've noticed a bit of a delay in between the starter and the truck actually turning over. I'm at work, started the truck, used the inverter and left it running. Stopped the truck went back to work for an hour or so. Came back to the truck, tried to start and nothing. All I get is a whirring, almost grinding noise when I try to start it, no clicking. Kinda like the noise a unprimed aquarium pump makes. I have someone coming to give a boost in an hour or so but I'm worried it won't help. Any ideas?

 

If it want boost and starter makes funny sound its probably the starter solenoid, but dont give up on the battery problem, i had a battery give me a fit it checked good at advanced auto on their machine but it was really bad finally showed up the next day, it would start fine some times then other it would not,i was ready to buy a starter when the battery finally showed bad

 

Do you top the battery off with a charger? The alternator might not be putting enough juice back each time.

Note to self: follow your own advice.

 

No I do not. I may need to look into that. Would running the truck for 15 min after using the inverter be enough?

 

Could be, but might not. Are you just idling? The amp output of any alt is drastically reduced as RPMs drop. I installed a hand throttle to be able to set the RPMs for recharges after winching.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/hand-throttle-write-up.425494/

@Wheelspinner was my favorite member after he posted that write up.

 

He's right though, heavy heavy winching or using an inverter that size takes a toll on the battery. At Idle while in use the alternator might not be able to keep up. Lockable hand throttle would help to keep alt Rpms up. Also a period of idle time before and after heavy use of the inverter should help aswell

 

You are killing the battery. A jump start should do you and put it on a charger overnight. If you are using the inverter that much it would probably be worth it to invest in a small generator instead of killing the truck.

 

Sounds like OP is an ideal candidate for dual batteries.

 

I’d put it on a trickle charger overnight at 2A. That’s how I used to charge the boat battery, and it will let you know real quick when you reinstall if it’s bad.

 

Just got a boost from a buddy and she started right up. Considering dual batteries with a charge controller and solar panel. I'd rather not have to carry around any more tools than I already do (full bed). I'll definitely check out the hand throttle. Thanks for all the input. Do you guys think a upgraded alternator would be necessary?

 

Buy a generator.

 

You can't really take full advantage of your wiring upgrade without a high amp alt. I'd go 250 for your uses. I looked at doing it, but so far my Northstar 27f battery and stock 130 amp alt are doing the trick.

 

I don't hesitate to buy tools, but I'd rather not have to carry around excess. I don't rely on the truck as a power source all the time. But I do run into situations where I need to run a skill saw or in this case a d handle mixer. It would make more sense to me to have a fully integrated power solution than have to carry around yet another tool that I rarely use.

 

I agree with you on this. Just keep upgrading every time you find the weak link in the system. Right now it's the alt. a second battery will probably be next. Maybe a solar trickle charger. This is how you build a rig to suit your needs. When it serves your uses, you stop throwing money at it because it does what you need it to do. It sounds like your mods are tax write offs too...I know a thing or two about this game.

 

At some point the answer is to buy a screw driver rather than a bigger hammer to drive screws into wood.

 

I understand what you're saying, but I understand where OP is going with this. He will be able to cover all of his work needs as well as have a badass setup for overland trips. Fuck carrying around a generator when you're already driving one.

 

I would agree if I was needing 15 amps on a daily. I don't. I dont need to run a framing crew off my truck. I need to have the most compact solution possible. I will be buying a generator, just not carrying it around, every day, for the once a month I may happen to need it. That doesn't make sense to me. Having a set up with me that I can tap into and use whenever I need, that makes sense. By the way.... I've driven plenty 3" screws just fine with my stiletto Tb 15....

 

Just purchased a mechman 240. I've seen cheaper but no one offers a 2 year warranty.

 

I do have a switch on it. The issue is I currently don't have enough recharge after use. I'm running 15 amp draw tools.