Ive noticed that when its cold in the mornings, my truck seems like it doesn't want to turn over. I wait to start and once I turn the key it spins over fine for about half a second then it slows down dramatically like the batteries are dying and then it fires up about 2 seconds after I turned the key. Yesterday morning and this morning, I noticed that it smokes when I first start it up. It gives a poof of smoke followed by a small amount of continuous smoke for about 10 seconds and then the smoke stops.

Could the reason the truck turns over slow be that the alternator is dying? I know that your volts should be around 14 (on a car) when its running but on the truck, the volts aren't much above 9 until I start it up. Then it rises slowly until I give it a bit of gas and about 3 seconds later the volts shoot up to a few ticks above 14.

The smoking part confuses me. It just started happening yesterday and its only when the truck sits over night. If I start the truck and go somewhere and let it sit for 7 - 8 hours and completely cool down, it still won't smoke. So, it only occurs in the morning if its could outside.

What could cause these issues?

Ive noticed that when its cold in the mornings, my truck seems like it doesn't want to turn over. I wait to start and once I turn the key it spins over fine for about half a second then it slows down dramatically like the batteries are dying and then it fires up about 2 seconds after I turned the key. Yesterday morning and this morning, I noticed that it smokes when I first start it up. It gives a poof of smoke followed by a small amount of continuous smoke for about 10 seconds and then the smoke stops.

Could the reason the truck turns over slow be that the alternator is dying? I know that your volts should be around 14 (on a car) when its running but on the truck, the volts aren't much above 9 until I start it up. Then it rises slowly until I give it a bit of gas and about 3 seconds later the volts shoot up to a few ticks above 14.

The smoking part confuses me. It just started happening yesterday and its only when the truck sits over night. If I start the truck and go somewhere and let it sit for 7 - 8 hours and completely cool down, it still won't smoke. So, it only occurs in the morning if its could outside.

What could cause these issues?

Mine smokes alittle too when I start it up when it is really cold. Your volts don't go right up to 14 because of the intake heater then it shoots up to 14. Try cleaning the terminals on your batterys. Mine was doing the same thing this winter ,I brought it in the garage and noticed the terminals had a little corrosion on them. Also my positive for the second batt. was loose.

It is normal for it to smoke on start up when its cold. It is a white smoke isn't it. Look it up in videos. They all do it. Now for the battery mine does the same thing. I never noticed it until this winter. I don't know it always did this or I have a battery going bad. Mine will fire right off though. Just low voltage for a few seconds. I might have my batterys tested.

well i have a 06 and it also does it, but for some reason mine only has one battery, yes only 1. but it will fire up with one crank every time.

well i have a 06 and it also does it, but for some reason mine only has one battery, yes only 1. but it will fire up with one crank every time.

Are you missing a battery?

well it is an 06 ext cab 3500 long bed fully loaded, sunroof, everything, so it was orderd and i dont think it was ever put in from the factory

thats weird. I have only seen two batteries.

ya im not sure as how to go about putting in a second battery, the people at GM couldnt believe it would even start. being in illinois.

You don't have a place for a second battery?

i have the place, but there is no tray or anything

i have the place, but there is no tray or anything

I'm sure you can get a tray and cables for it from the dealer. Or out of a totaled Dmax.

ya that is probably what i will do one of these days, it works just fine the way it is right now. the lbz is a big improvement from my old lly, just doesnt smoke

I would get a second one also. Even though it works good a second wouldn't hurt.

that is probably what is going to happen, thanks for the help

FYI, for some reason GM alternators won't put out full till it has been running for a few seconds. my only thought for the reasoning of this is because it decreases engine load till it is stable. it should only stay down for a few seconds and then pop up. if it staying down for longer amouts of time or especially if it won't come up at all till you rev it, you should probably take it off the truck and get it tested. a drive up test at a parts house probably won't catch it but a component test in a machine might. just food for thought.

thanks good info

I dont have to hit the gas to make the volts go up. I just normally do to get the heat going. It starts on the first try but what scares me is that it starts to turn over fine and then it slows down like the battery it about to die then it fires. I dont want to go out to start it one morning and it do that and not start because I would then be stranded with no way to class.

Are the volts supposed to be 14 on these trucks? Like I said earlier, my volts go up to in between 14 and the next big tick mark (Im guessing close to 17). I just replaced the fuel primer (a whopping $500) and I dont want to have to replace an alternator. I can only imagine how much those cost.

I dont have to hit the gas to make the volts go up. I just normally do to get the heat going. It starts on the first try but what scares me is that it starts to turn over fine and then it slows down like the battery it about to die then it fires. I dont want to go out to start it one morning and it do that and not start because I would then be stranded with no way to class.

Are the volts supposed to be 14 on these trucks? Like I said earlier, my volts go up to in between 14 and the next big tick mark (Im guessing close to 17). I just replaced the fuel primer (a whopping $500) and I dont want to have to replace an alternator. I can only imagine how much those cost.

When you first start your truck it is supposed to be low volts for 10-20 sec.. It is normal.

When you first start your truck it is supposed to be low volts for 10-20 sec.. It is normal.

Thats not what I am worried about. Im worried about the fact that it seems like the truck barely wants to turn over and when it fires up it shakes the whole truck for a split second and it acts like the battery is dying every time. If its warm outside, I do not have this problem.

Thats not what I am worried about. Im worried about the fact that it seems like the truck barely wants to turn over and when it fires up it shakes the whole truck for a split second and it acts like the battery is dying every time. If its warm outside, I do not have this problem.

Are your batterys new? Maybe one is bad or is corrorded. Check the Batterys first and go from there.