Help:94 pathy, Dead or slow cranking starter, dead battery symptoms???

[buddha-head]

This has been a mind f#@k. This situation came on very quickly, 5 days ago all was fine & dandy... today it sucks....

The truck started to act like it had a dead battery, very slow turning starter, I charged the battery & it started up... well ok.... but something sounded funny while cranking. Then the next day it was dead again.

So I pulled the alternator & it checked out fine, charged the battery again, it again acted like a dead battery, very slow cranking. Next I had the battery load tested, it's good.

Now it's intermittent when I hit the key, sometimes it cranks very slowly, sometimes nothing, lights all dim like a dead battery,. The battery is reading 12.7v standing & 13.8 running.

I wanted to check the relays, there is one large blue relay near the battery on the fender, that has 2 plug ins. A rectangular black box that has 2 green relays (Fuel Pump/Main) & 1 Blue relay (Check) + 2-15amp fuses (Head lamps) 1 grey relay (horn). Back near the fire wall are 2 more identical blue relays. Which are the starter relays??? How do I check them?

So if I have to pull the starter, any suggestions? It looks hard to get to.....

Thanx Steve

[W O T]

13.8 running is NOT good. My car never goes below 14.6 (ive got a digital gauge to verify)

My money is on alternator, not charging the battery

BUT, if your battery is showing 12.7V, it should start no problem, and not have the dim lights and trouble like you mentionned.

I would have the alt tested by another shop, because I believe that voltage is to low. If they say its good still, I would probly try and get an alt from a pick n pull n swap it.

Doesnt sound like the starter is the problem at all though

(autozone checks those aswell for free )