I have a 1998 Suburban 1500 4x4 with a 5.7 liter engine and an automatic transmission. For several weeks now, it starts badly. When I turn the key, it turns over very slowly like the starter's dragging, but if I keep it turned for a few seconds it will begin to turn quickly like it should and then start. We checked and replaced what turned out to be a bad battery. When we tried to start it the starter would get very hot, so we pulled it down this morning and the large contact on the solenoid was literally broken out of the housing and I replaced that. It started fine the first time or two and is now back to its old tricks exactly as it had been doing. Any ideas?

 

maybe bad connection at battery, at starter, or ground connections.

 

Hi lightnindan,

Welcome to the Chevy forums.

Oh yeah.Battery cables. They're corroded from the inside. They'll continue to eat starters, batteries, and alternators as long as you will let them. And your mechanic will lllllooooovvveee you. Don't forget that engine-to-firewall groundstrap.

 

I third that notion of checking the cables esp if you do any off roading that would get water up under the vehicle... the cable will indeed look fine from the outside but can corrode and get high in resistance.

next check the battery condition(which you did) as well as having the alt load checked..