the mystery continues...

[peachykeen]

Here's a list of things I've done to improve my cold starts on my 79 300TD high mileage wagon;

- new bosch glow plugs (noticed the difference right away)
- diesel purge last month
- religious use of power service in fuel
- new primary and secondary fuel filters
- 1 or so year old 800CCA battery
- valve adjustment pending -- hopefully this week...I know, this will help a lot...but...

After I just swapped out the glow plugs, I noticed I could now start well to about 30s F. However, I noticed that my battery drains FAST, and then just won't spin the starter fast enough. Just had this happen at 30 F this morning...battery was about wiped out from 2-3 attempts at starting...so I jumped it with my van -- glowed the plugs and immediately one crank and it started!!!

Here's my theory -- I'm either losing juice in the battery and/or the battery is never charging fully while driving? Should I replace my alternator for a bigger amp one? I've had it tested by a local electric motor tech in town and he said that the alternator tested OK, but wasn't 100% but was working...

Here's something too that I think supports my theory -- sometimes when I put a charger on the battery overnight on trickle...the battery seems to spin the starter much faster...so that's what also leads me to think that the battery that size (huge) should have no problem working well...it just isn't getting fully charged by the alternator ...or getting drained somehow...i'm a terrible electrician fyi...

Thanks again for any input!!!