6.2 New Starting Issue

[cornemuse]

Yesterday I hopped in the Blazer ('84 6.2) & started her up. Took the usual amount of cranking for cold (for here) weather start.
It has always when hot started with first piston compression stroke coming up. Went to store, then restart, it took a bit of cranking. Next stop, starting took even more cranking. Again, next stop, took still even more cranking. Skipped next stop & drove home.
Once started, ran just fine, as always for 18 years.
I have not looked at it yet, thought I'd check here first. Not that many miles since air/oil/fuel filter changes, tho, it seems to me it might be fuel related??

Any ideas or thoughts?

 

[Will L.]

Clear return line out front of ip? Clear fuel flow without bubbles?

Fuel pressure gauge tapped in just before the ip inlet?
What pressure when cranking before and after it starts?

 

[cornemuse]

I feel like an idiot!
The alternator vee belt was broken/gone.
I noticed something dangling under the motor, when I felt it, I knew.
This happened once about 15 yrs ago, it all came back. The weaker the batts, the longer the cranking.
I hadnt done anything as its been raining here, & I must work in the dirt, (its been mud, I'm waiting for things to dry up. Its supposed to be dry & sunny in Southern Calif!! But not lately.

Changing all belts requires laying in the mud under the car, good thing I'm retired, I'll just wait, , , ,

 

[Will L.]

Get a charge in the batteries asap. The lower they are and the longer they are low- the more it shortens the life.

Remember v belts should be done as a set.

 

[cornemuse]

Yeah, one has to come off, I'll do all three when it dries out.
Rained about 2" last 18 hours, must be global warming or something!

 

[ak diesel driver]

so rather then just buy what the auto parts stock call gates and find out what belt is the heaviest rated for your application

 

[cornemuse]

Bought 3 Gates 'vee' belts at Kragens, I'm ready when it dries out.

 

[cornemuse]

Installed new belts, now, alternator is not charging.
I had to use my 125 amp charger/starter unit to move Blazer to dry ground. Installed belt(s), let motor run for ½ - ¾ hr with charger still hooked up.

Could this combo fry the alternator??

About 15 years ago, this car kept going through alternators. (junkyard units, could of been bad) Put one last one on & its 15 years later, , ,

 

[6.2 turbo]

I was told that it can,so I always quick disconnect the charger after the vehicle starts.

 

[cornemuse]

Meant to mention (post #8): using 125A starter, it showed very low current flow to batts. even when initially connected. Batts maybe bad? They're about 2 yrs old. Mild SoCal climate, mid to low 40's last few weeks.