Sluggish starter when engine warmed up 1994 Disco

[Phototone]

I have a 1994 Disco 1, 173,000 miles, 5sp. manual transmission, 3.9 litre V8.

Fresh battery.

When vehicle is cold, the starter turns over the engine briskly, and the truck starts right up.

When vehicle is warmed up, the starter is very sluggish, and it may take two or three tries to start vehicle.

Also, when truck is warmed up, after driving and coming up to a stop sign, when the truck drops down to idle (at stop sign) there is a kinda rattling thru the exhaust, which goes away when I accellerate away from stop sign. Someone suggested bad cat's, but I had them checked and the muffler shop said they were good...no excessive back pressure.

I have replaced plugs and wires (Champion plugs), cleaned IAC and throttle plate and replaced "some" vacuum hoses that I thought were suspect.

A independent mechanic suggested the starting issue might be related to timing.

Anyway the truck runs strong, has plenty of power, no smoking, engine runs very smooth.

Any suggestions or ideas addressing my issues would be appreciated.

[Rovin4life]

do a voltage drop test across the starter wire and check the relay to see that its opening fully.

you could have short to ground causing a problme.

clean the grounds on the starter and body including the frame rail.