2008 Eddie Bauer Long Crank / Hard Start issue

[MpiersD]

I have a 2008 Expy Eddie Bauer with approx. 205,000 miles on it. I bought it primarily for my daughter to drive when I don't need it but have been dailying it as the Jeep I drive is down a cylinder due to a fuel injector wiring issue.
Anyway, it has begun having an issue that seems like a low battery with a sluggish start/long start but I just replaced the battery 10 months ago in February with an AC Delco Gold 3yr warranty battery. And it will do it even after having sat overnight on a battery tender and does it on every start. Even if it was just running and was only shut off for 30 seconds or so.
I'm thinking maybe the starter or fuel pump, but as far as the fuel pump it runs fine once it has started. And I've already hooked up my OBD scanner and it runs with 14.2 volts so I have eliminated the alternator as a culprit. The battery is reading 11.8-ish volts after sitting overnight.
Does anyone have any tips on troubleshooting the starter to see if that is the problem.
TIA

 

[AWAR]

It sounds like a defective battery.

 

[max78]

Dead cell in the battery. A fully charged battery should be 12.5 or high for a healthy battery, with it being under 12 along with slow cranking its the battery. . . .

Easy check is to have it tested, or put a volt meter on it as you crank and see if its dropping to under 11v. If yes, then its toast.

Rockauto has cheap AGM batteries. I just got one for the expedition

 

[MpiersD]

@max78 yep, battery lost a cell. Confirmed it yesterday by monitoring cranking amps. Replacing battery later this week under the remaining warranty.

Dead cell in the battery. A fully charged battery should be 12.5 or high for a healthy battery, with it being under 12 along with slow cranking its the battery. . . .

Easy check is to have it tested, or put a volt meter on it as you crank and see if its dropping to under 11v. If yes, then its toast.

Rockauto has cheap AGM batteries. I just got one for the expedition

View attachment 86289

 

[MpiersD]

Well, the battery had lost a cell. New battery wasn't fully charged so I let it sit for 2 days on a battery tender and still no start.
You can hear the armature on the starter click, all lights and electronics work as they should but still no start.

 

[MpiersD]

Next step is to test resistance between the battery and the starter end of the positive battery cable and bypass the cable and test the starter motor...
OR remove the starter and have the auto parts store test it.
Not a fan of working in my pea gravel driveway in the cold, so....

 

[MpiersD]

Finally got around to working on the Expedition again, recovering from Spinal surgery put a pause on things. Got the Starter out, NO TOP BOLT installed, new ACDelco starter from rock auto delivered today while I'm at work as well as a starter bolt kit from oemfordparts. New bolt kit only came with stud and one bolt though.
Should be able to get to it this evening or tomorrow after work. Also grabbed a couple of HELLA relays while I was at it as they were reasonably priced and going to swap them in even though the factory ones tested good.

 

[Gary Waugh]

My 08 starter motor failed around the 200K miles mark. It's a little fiddly to change but not too bad, however if you are recovering from back surgery it might be a good idea to let a local independent garage change it out. Less than an hours labor (with the right tools!!).

Gary

 

[Anonymous98]

As to fuel pump issue, if it wasn't caused by the dead battery cell, take a look at the fuel control module. I have an Eddie Bauer 2010 model, and learned that the relatively inexpensive fuel control module is mounted on the frame right above the left rear axle, and, due to a poor design, corrodes easily which reduces functionality. On the 2010 models, the fuel pump lives inside the fuel tank, which can require draining the tank, removing the tank if there's no other way to get to the pump inside the tank, buying a new pump assembly, installing it, etc. While replacing the fuel control module only requires removing the old one, cleaning corrosion off of the old mounting point and connector ends, and bolting the new one in and plugging it up.

 

[MpiersD]

My 08 starter motor failed around the 200K miles mark. It's a little fiddly to change but not too bad, however if you are recovering from back surgery it might be a good idea to let a local independent garage change it out. Less than an hours labor (with the right tools!!).

Gary

The problem is it died in the driveway. I'd have to get it towed and I honestly don't drive it much. It got kept around for my kids to have something to drive and then my son bought his cousin's Mustang so it's mostly my daughter and she doesn't get out of the house much anyway.
I don't mind doing the work, I actually enjoy being able to get out there and do it again now that my neck is mostly fixed.

 

[MpiersD]

Had some great weather today, got out in the driveway early and got the starter installed.
Fought with it for about 30 minutes trying to install a top bolt before just torqueing down the side and bottom bolts
Reconnected the battery and turned the key and, weak battery but the starter turned.
Hooked up the jump box and the Expy is back on the road.

 

[Gary Waugh]

The top bolt was the one I had trouble getting to!! Managed it with a 1/4” socket and extension.. glad to hear it all runs. Hope your neck doesn’t give you to much trouble in the next few days.
I also changed mine on the driveway with no jacks/lifts, it was a squeeze getting under the car, but worth it for the money saved. I managed to get all 3 bolts back in, felt uncomfortable not refitting the top bolt, but after a while with some sticky tape and the socket I managed to get it in the hole and tightened.

 

[MpiersD]

The top bolt was the one I had trouble getting to!! Managed it with a 1/4” socket and extension.. glad to hear it all runs. Hope your neck doesn’t give you to much trouble in the next few days.

Nothing I did I could get to the top bolt. I probably could have done it on a lift a little more room to work with under the truck. Thank, neck feels good today, just a little muscle sore, but I am six weeks post-surgery.