My Max sometimes hesitates when starting. I am always able to get it started, but sometimes it takes several seconds of cranking.



The best way to demonstrate is with a video I took.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PPVHXZNx2k


If anyone knows how to fix this, please let me know.

 

Need a few ground wires, more than likely. Had any trans work done recently?

Try running a ground wire directly to the starter from the negative battery terminal.

 

It started about 18 months ago when I had a used engine put in. It's been usually intermittent (25% of the time), but lately it's been happening more like 50% of the time.

 

+1 i agree run a new ground from the battery to the starter and see what happens

 

my 97 used to crank slow and i thouht that the battery was dying. I found out it wasn't the battery when it finally wouldn't crank one day. The starter is the wimpyest thing I've ever seen! It has a planetary gear set that the lubrication dries up in and the internal friction is too much for the tiny motor.

I took my starter to auto zone and they put it on their "great" tester and said it was good. Their junk tester doesn't even put a load on the starter, they put 12 volts to it and measure current draw. The starter was so noisy as it spun with no load. I found a thread that said to take apart the planetary gear set and lube it, so I did and was at least able to start the car and get it home. I still replaced the starter because the starter was still not cranking properly.