8.2 Detroit starting hard

[Birdhouse]

Hi all.
This bird used to start easy.
Like tap the starter and it was running, easy. One second or less crank time. Even when it was really cold. Even with zero glow plugs.

Now it's taken to hitching and humping and I have to drag it along with the starter for 30 seconds or more. Routinely.

The fact the battery keeps coming up dead isn't helping matters I'm sure. Could it just be a weak crank not firing it off?

Ran it 2 days ago and when I tried last night it was half flat again

Or is the start issue entirely unrelated?


Runs like a top once it warms up.
When it's cold. It hitches pretty good.
Has always done that though, at least since I've known it

Definitely has fuel
Put in 28 gallons a few days ago
I've never ran it dry

[ChrisLifts]

Not sure if your bus still has an onboard camera system and other electronics that run 24/7, but mine did and it was killing the battery within a week. I know you mentioned that it was fine a couple of days ago and already having problems starting now but it's worth checking. Once I let a charger sit on my battery overnight the bus fired up fine the next morning!

[Birdhouse]

No known electronics that stay on.
The key got cranked over hard left and got left in acc a couple of times, left it hard dead pretty much the next day.

Put a 3a trickle charger on it the other day Hopefully problem solved.

It was weird though. It would crank for a very long time, the battery was surprisingly energetic, just hitching and bucking. I really suspect the injection could be getting gummed up by the red diesel that has been in it

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

ok what year is your bus engine?
specific.
is it an NA or turbo version.
i know both but your answer helps with your problems.
these things love good batteries and filling out your profile so we dont have to guess at what you have and or working on is what this forum likes to be able to help us help you quicker without as many questions?
with that said?
what 8.2 do you have?
loads more questions of your issue once those questions are answered.

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

turbo doesnt matter that much with starting these motors but fuel quality and compression does.