Weird starting problem (but have new starter)

[bimmerboy12]

I bought my cabrio in 2001 with a bad starter, towed it home, and put in a starter from the local Advance Auto. It would start fine, when cranking it would turn over fast (de-de-de-de-de-de-de-de), but about 25% of the time (especially when it is hot out or the engine is hot) it would turn over slow (dooowww-dooowww-dooowww-dooowww) almost like it is laboring to turn over. You can stop, turn the key again, and it is fine. I have been driving like this until now, was fed up with it and took the starter back. They tested it and said it wasn't right, and gave me a new one (reman). I installed it, same problem, although it doesn't sound quite as labored when it does it.
Did I get two bad starters or is this something else?
Thanks guys,
Brian

[evil_twin]

CCA in the Battery good?

[jlevie]

Check the ground strap from the engine to the body for a bad connection as well as the primary connections at the battery. A bit of resistance there will cause starter issues.

[bimmerboy12]

The battery is new.
I will check the ground strap and leads. The ground strap from the core support to the hood is frayed and broken, but I wouldn't think that would affect it.

[jeer]

no, thats not the one to worry about. if you have a volt meter see if you can get a friend to help you out.

while starting it have to voltmeter lead on the engine as clost to the starter as possible and the other lead on one of the three strut bolts.
if you get any voltage there your loosing voltage that your starter should be using and your ground strap from the engine to the body is bad.

if thats not it try that with one lead on the positive of the battery and the other lead with an extension wire from to the starter positive and see if you get a voltage reading while starting the car.

you shouldnt get any more that 1 volt while doing this.
if you do the there is a bad terminal or the whole wire is correded. from the battery to the starter.

[bimmerboy12]

tried both these, and everything checked out OK. Problem still there and pissing me off. Any input?

[bimmerboy12]

well the problem is fixed. I ended up cleaning the leads and terminals and it has not done it since. Thanks jeer, your post made me think of doing that!

[bimmerboy12]

I take that back, it did it twice yesterday, only after running in the store and then starting within 15 minutes. Son of a bitch.
It is definitley better though

[bimmerboy12]

OK an update, I took all the contacts off the battery and cleaned them really well. Problem solved (again) until about a week later it started again. Anything to put on these terminals that will prevent this from happening again after cleaning?