Issue: On cold start up the car acts as if it has a low battery. Initial turn of the key a few "rumph rumph" then the engine turns over fine and starts right up. Warm start ups seem fine. Hot start ups seem to have same issue if not worse. Stopped at gas station the other day and seemed as if battery was almost dead, then started right up.

Battery has ~12.7VDC , New alternator.

Suspects: Starter bad? Maybe drawing low amps? Voltage leaking somewhere in the ignition circuit? Could the battery earth ground be an issue?

Whats the best way to test a starter or rule it out? Any other key players here??

Thanks for the help.

 

Check your timing. To much advance will cause difficult starts also.

 

As Chevynut said, check timing.

Load test your battery, a simple volt check with a voltmeter will leave you stranded.

Ohm out cables (ground cable included) for high resistance.

Sounds like a pickup i just worked on. Ended up being a weak starter.

 

Mine does that. Its because the idiots put a 305 starter on it instead of a 350 when I had it replaced. It doesn't do it if you hit the ignition and let it some power surge through the circuit first.

Theyre gonna replace it for free with a 350 if/when it breaks.

 

Timing is a good one, I should probably do this regardless as the car does have Accel Dist./Wires. Could have been installed wrong. The overall symptoms (the way it chugs for a second then starts up) seems to be starter but gotta peel back the onion.

What do you mean by "ohm out the cables"