having trouble starting 6.2 diesel

[gold84gmc]

ok that makes sense

what if the test like doesnt reach the battery and i dont have a jumper wire

[levisjohnson]

Use a coat hanger

[gold84gmc]

so can someone list the possibilities that could be causing it to turn over slowly and not starting?

[Donut]

Bad/discharged battery(s)
bad connection somewhere
bad starter

Mid 20's for a high temp isn't helping.

Did the PO start the truck for you before you got it?  At least to verify it would start/run even if only for a few seconds.

[Irish_Alley]

I would make sure both bats are good. A week starter wouuld also cause that

[gold84gmc]

yes he did start it for me...but he also had a charger(one on wheels) and the block heater plugged in...and it started right up and it stayed running

[Donut]

Can you get the truck into some place warm? (right now it's below 0)
Get both batteries tested.  iirc, they can both read 12v, but if one is "shorted" it's junk.  (load test)
check connections.

Don't get frustrated or overwhelmed, just because it's diesel doesn't mean it's from another planet. 

[VileZambonie]

Gold84,

this thread is all over the place. Start over,

#1 make sure you have charged batteries and good connections
#2 make sure you have fuel
#3 if it turns over really slow do a starter draw test. Since you go to school you should have access to an amp clamp.

[gold84gmc]

one battery is new and the other one isnt new but it should be good...ive put the charger on both and it doesnt change it all even when i put it on engine start

im going to take off the start and have it tested

and i think i have fuel because i opened the air bleed valve on the fuel filter and fuel came out and it has a full tank

and i put some anti-gel stuff in it...im starting to think that the starter is bad because ive put the charger on, tried jump starting it and nothing seems to help

it just seems like its not turning over fast enough for the engine to start

[gold84gmc]

so i just went out and looked at the batteries...the new one is 730 CCA's and the other one that i put in is only 650 CCA's and the old one that was in the truck when i got it is also 650 CCA's...so do you think this is my problem? i need to get a more powerful battery?

[Irish_Alley]

I don't think its the bat. but eliminate that first then go from there test it then test the starter. I think that's your problem but make sure before you buy something you don't need

[gold84gmc]

i think it was because of the battery because i took the batt out of my dads truck and that was 850 CCA and my truck turned over a lot faster and better

i couldnt get it started, but i think thats because i havent had it plugged in and it was -10 here this morning...so im going to get another battery

and i talked to a local garage and they said that both batteries need to be the same size (CCA's) with my dads 850 and my new 730 it seemed fine, and im not gonna spend another $200 on batteries seeing that i dont even have that money

[Irish_Alley]

all you should have to replace is the one your dads is replacing. did you leave it plugged in over night again?

[gold84gmc]

last night i went and bought an 800 CCA battery, i kept it in a warm spot over night and im going to put it in this morning and try to start it...i have had it plugged in since noon yesterday so that should be all set

[Jim Rockford]

have someone check the battery voltage while you crank, If one goes below 10.5 volts its done for.