Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

Lately, I have been having issues starting my L400.

It still starts, and starts within the normal amount of time. Usually less than a second or so.

I can hear the engine turn over about 3x before it fires to life. All well and good.

However, it sounds like I am starting from a low battery, that is, like the starter is having trouble turning the engine over. I would say it was battery or alternator issues, but I have new dual batteries and I have had no issues with my voltmeter readings, they are normal.

I have even put my batteries on a trickle charger and verified them to be full before starting.

This happens even after a long highway drive and a 5 min stop with the engine more than warm. I suspected my air filter which is a bit dirty, but removing it and testing without, I still have the same slow engine turnover.

If I did not know better I would guess not enough power is getting to the starter motor.

What could be causing this?

starter could just be getting tired (cleaning terminals, ground straps, and starter connections)...

X2
definately sounds like electrical, even a clogged air filter shouldnt make any difference to a starter slowing down, cold thick oil possibly an issue but you said it does it even when hot. check what has been mentioned, especially the grounds. make sure your alternator is putting out enough juice to keep the batteries at the proper level. check with a proper meter and not the guages, a 1-2 volt change is hard to read on a guage but makes a world of difference to your starter. a good battery once charged and let cool should be reading at or above 12.6 volts.

Where the heck IS my starter on the L400? Having a tired starter sounds exactly like the issue, I am having no problems with the battery or having them charged. Have not had to go looking for the starter on the Deli yet. (have to climb around outside with few tools at the moment, while I only have business attire, so figured I would ask in advance!)

I would expect it is at the bottom of the engine, and I may have to remove the tinfoil bash plate to find it, but, which side of the engine would I find it on? What is the easiest way to access it? I am thinking cleaning the terminals/leads as suggested will fix the issue.

So, with access to the garage, I found my starter. It is nestled far inside my passenger side engine compartment. I can't even see it when taking the intercooler off, and I can sort of see it when looking at it from under the Deli.

Of course, given that I can't get to it, I can't even CHECK the connections on it!

What can I do? How can I diagnose this problem further? I think I have no choice but to take it to a mechanic now, and get them to replace the starter leads - that is, if the starter leads are even the problem...

Anyone else have an idea? I have a feeling my Deli won't be able to start soon if this problem continues.

If you have a volt meter put it on the pos and neg main terminals and see standing voltage should be 12.6 then crank the starter and watch the voltage if it drops below 9.6 then its either high draw or bad batteries. To check high draw put the positive led of the volt meter on the main positive post of the starter and the negitive led of the volt meter on the positive post of the battery. Have the meter on voltage and crank the starter if it if above 0.5 volts then most likely the starter is pulling more amps than the cable can handle( first make sure all connections are clean). If this is the case its time to rebuild the starter.

Good luck

legionnair wrote:If you have a volt meter put it on the pos and neg main terminals and see standing voltage should be 12.6 then crank the starter and watch the voltage if it drops below 9.6 then its either high draw or bad batteries. To check high draw put the positive led of the volt meter on the main positive post of the starter and the negitive led of the volt meter on the positive post of the battery. Have the meter on voltage and crank the starter if it if above 0.5 volts then most likely the starter is pulling more amps than the cable can handle( first make sure all connections are clean). If this is the case its time to rebuild the starter.

Good luck

Hmm. Thanks. I guess that this means I have to take it to a shop though, while I have a voltmeter, I can't even see the area of the starter where the leads connect to it, much less reach that area. That is just how far it is nestled inside the engine, between the sidewall and the transmission bell housing.

If you take the skid plate off is it more accessible

legionnair wrote:If you take the skid plate off is it more accessible

No, does not change how it is accessed really.