starting problem

[old mate]

hi all,i have a 2.4 diesel hilux and i have just put my battery under the tray and now the motor wont start.It does'nt seem to be winding over as quick as it was when the battery was in the engine bay.I used 10mm battery cable,the battery is earthed to the chassis and the motor is earthed to the chassis and body.

[KiwiBacon]

Stick a multimeter on the starter and ground while someone cranks it.
If your voltage drops a lot you've either got a bad connection or wires too small.

[j-top paj]

use a heavier gauge wire than the original. the bigger the better.
and check for voltage drop

[drivesafe]

Hi old mate, as j-top paj posted, you need heavier cable.

You need to not only get current to the starter motor but you need that current at the highest possible voltage.

Depending on how far the battery is from the starter motor, I would go to at least 4 B&S ( about 22mm2 ) cable because that 10mm is only just big enough if the battery was in the engine bay.

I would also run a negative cable of 4 B&S from the battery to either the starter motor or to the point were the starter motor is earthed and still have your battery earthed to the chassis at the battery.

It can be a problem starting the motor when the battery is a long way from the starter motor but it can be done.

New Commodores have the battery in the boot and they start so best of luck.

[Oscars]

i bet that 10mm starter cable is getting darn hot while ur cranking

[old mate]

Had 25mm2 stepped up to 77mm2 on + still won't crank over fast enough to start.Step up size on - tomorrow and that will hopefully solve the problem

[MART]

Just one other thing , If you can , don't have any joins as if they are not done correctly they will heat up and you will get voltage loss , basically if the cable or the joins , terminals are hot , they are poorly connected , Also multi-stranded cable is the best , most electrical wholesalers carry it , they use it for UPS systems and welding leads , they also crimp lugs as well , Cheers Paul.

[Oscars]

yeh,good test is to feel all connections from battery to body,engine,starter etc.. after cranking. there should be minimal heat on any connection if any at all.

[j-top paj]

if its gettin warm at all then theres something that needs to be looked at

[old mate]

Put a new battery in and it startin good now.Old battery was fine till i moved it into the back.