Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) '98 12v intermittent starting

[RProvost]

HELP

5 days ago I came out a store, got into truck, turned key and nothing. It was if there were no batteries under the hood. No click, nothing. Everything else worked just but the start

function. After waiting 25 minutes I turned key and it started right up.



I've checked everything in the power distribution center under the hood, all fuses and relays. Nothing blown or bad. Sometimes I'll drive 2 miles home and it won't restart and sometimes will. Sometimes restart once, twice then not. This AM it wouldn't start to go to work. Came home this PM and it started 3 times in a row.



As I say it's as if someone had stole the batteries. No function at all. But every other

function of the switch works.



HELP

 

[GAmes]

I can't think of anything except a bad ignition switch. Sometimes the contacts conduct electricity, sometimes not. Time to pull it and do some continuity checks.

 

[BigPapa]

Starter.

Next time it won't start, tap on the starter pretty good with a hammer or heavy wrench and see if it won't start. I'd suggest rebuilding or replacing it before it won't work at all.

 

[CNunema]

HELP
5 days ago I came out a store, got into truck, turned key and nothing. It was if there were no batteries under the hood. No click, nothing. Everything else worked just but the start
function. After waiting 25 minutes I turned key and it started right up.

I've checked everything in the power distribution center under the hood, all fuses and relays. Nothing blown or bad. Sometimes I'll drive 2 miles home and it won't restart and sometimes will. Sometimes restart once, twice then not. This AM it wouldn't start to go to work. Came home this PM and it started 3 times in a row.

As I say it's as if someone had stole the batteries. No function at all. But every other
function of the switch works.

HELP

Have you checked the neutral safety swithch connector?

 

[Missouri Mule]

Or the clutch switch? Are you sure the starter relay is not acting up? Also a memeber found that the wire going into PDC from battery the nut or bolt was loose at connection (not sure what type of connection).

 

[wcjp]

Has the starter contacts been replaced yet?

 

[RProvost]

Yes, I installed a Larry B's kit in '04 after getting truck [I'm second owner]. Actually found that the old contacts were the big ones but replaced them and the plunger anyway.

I've tested as per factory manual all relays, switches and fuses. All check out OK. One thing I found last night was when I jumped the starter relay socket in the PDC from #30[which always is hot] to #87[normally open] and goes to starter solenoid that NOTHING happened. This leads me to believe the problem lies in the wire from #87 to the starter solenoid. I didn't get a chance today to connect a wire from the battery directly to the solenoid terminal [had to do my taxes]. If that doesn't cause anything to happen I'll know it's the starter/solenoid unit and will pull it and get it rebuilt.

Rich

 

[mwilson]

Yes, I installed a Larry B's kit in '04 after getting truck [I'm second owner]. Actually found that the old contacts were the big ones but replaced them and the plunger anyway.



I've tested as per factory manual all relays, switches and fuses. All check out OK. One thing I found last night was when I jumped the starter relay socket in the PDC from #30[which always is hot] to #87[normally open] and goes to starter solenoid that NOTHING happened. This leads me to believe the problem lies in the wire from #87 to the starter solenoid. I didn't get a chance today to connect a wire from the battery directly to the solenoid terminal [had to do my taxes]. If that doesn't cause anything to happen I'll know it's the starter/solenoid unit and will pull it and get it rebuilt.



Rich

Rich,



Did you or maybe the previous owner add the diode to the starter solenoid wire??? I would look as my son had the same issue last year and replaced the starter before checking things out. The diode that he had installed several years prior had failed.



Worth a look...



If it's got Larry B's contacts there is a good chance that the diode was added as well.



Mike.

 

[RProvost]

Where would this diode be? I didn't put one in. One didn't come with Larry's kit if I recall correctly, just the two contacts and plunger. It's been9 years since I did it. I do recall the thing was heavy.

Rich

 

[mwilson]

Where would this diode be? I didn't put one in. One didn't come with Larry's kit if I recall correctly, just the two contacts and plunger. It's been9 years since I did it. I do recall the thing was heavy.



Rich

Goes between the starter solenoid post and the eyelet of the solenoid power wire. . previous owner might have put one on when he upgraded the starter contacts.



http://www.larrybs.com/sol-saverdiode.htm



Mike.

 

[BigPapa]

Come up with anything yet?

 

[RProvost]

Come up with anything yet?

Came up with a CRUMMY ground. My rebuilder [whom I trust implicitly] showed where it had been arcing at the three mounting points[even though the two bottom bolts took a 6" cheater bar on the wrench to break loose.

We agreed a direct ground between one of the mounting bolts and the NEG battery post would be best [many new systems are doing it]. I couldn't get any 1/0 cable over the weekend so I cleaned all three mounting points with plumbers paper and bolted it back in. Will rig the direct ground cable tomorrow. Worked like a champ.

Will also be rigging up a push button switch on dash between starter solenoid terminal and battery thereby eliminating one MORE circuit. Last fall I eliminated my fuel solenoids and replaced with an on/off manual cable setup.

I feel the more of the electric/electronic bulls**T you can get rid of the better off you'll be.

Anyone know what purpose the "special" starter bolts serve? Why can't they be replaced with regular hex head grade 8 bolts?

Rich

 

[Bob4x4]

The bolts also pilot the starter look closely at the shank portion of the bolts

 

[RProvost]

The bolts also pilot the starter look closely at the shank portion of the bolts

Bob

That's what I was thinking after looking at them. They're not a straight bolt but have a bigger, bulbous shoulder on them. Then I put them in the starter mounting flange while I had it off the truck and found that they are by no means a tight fit in the mounting flange. So if they do any "piloting" it's mighty sloppy. Nothing at all like a dowel pin.

To mount the 1/0 grounding cable lug I'm going to substitute a slightly longer hex head bolt for one of the bottom bolts. I'll remove the starter relay and use a manual push button switch for now. Come winter I'll put the relay back in so the remote starter will work.

Rich