2015 3500 CC Aisin

[DonFitzwater]

Buddy calls me and says truck won’t start. Doesn’t get driven much so advised him to charge batteries and load test, replaced batteries instead and truck cranked. Was showing to be in charge protect mode afterwards. Now the truck won’t start at all. Starter snaps like it should but doesn’t turn over. Going to have the truck towed to my shop and will test the starter off the truck. Any other things I should be looking at while I’ve got the starter out? It’s not been my experience that these trucks have starter problems. Napa only has reman in stock and no new availability. Also, miles are low, way under 100k.

 

[Ozymandias]

Be sure to check the battery connections for oxidation and tightness. Maybe your Buddy messed something up.
The snapping Starter and the battery safe mode guides me in this direction.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Be sure to check the battery connections for oxidation and tightness. Maybe your Buddy messed something up.
The snapping Starter and the battery safe mode guides me in this direction.

Battery connections are clean and tight and look like new. I'm reasonably certain the starter is seized up but curious as to why. The outside looks like new and no burned wiring or discolored starter paint. I'm betting something came apart internally.

 

[SnoKing]

Buddy calls me and says truck won’t start. Doesn’t get driven much so advised him to charge batteries and load test, replaced batteries instead and truck cranked. Was showing to be in charge protect mode afterwards. Now the truck won’t start at all. Starter snaps like it should but doesn’t turn over. Going to have the truck towed to my shop and will test the starter off the truck. Any other things I should be looking at while I’ve got the starter out? It’s not been my experience that these trucks have starter problems. Napa only has reman in stock and no new availability. Also, miles are low, way under 100k.

If it is like my push button start, if the truck sees low voltage it aborts the start sequence. Clicks in, aborts before trying to turn over the engine.

 

[jhenderson]

I’d try barring the motor over backwards. Sounds like the low battery condition may have locked the drive in the engage mode and hung it up.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I’d try barring the motor over backwards. Sounds like the low battery condition may have locked the drive in the engage mode and hung it up.

It cranked fine after the new batteries were installed but after sitting for several days shes a nogo. Were going to fool with it tonight and see if I can tap it with a small mallet or screwdriver handle to see if it will roll over.

 

[SnoKing]

It cranked fine after the new batteries were installed but after sitting for several days shes a nogo. Were going to fool with it tonight and see if I can tap it with a small mallet or screwdriver handle to see if it will roll over.

Probably low and bad (new) battery(ies). Is it really really cold out?

 

[DonFitzwater]

Probably low and bad (new) battery(ies). Is it really really cold out?

Yes, its -25. The batteries are new and good. They are fully charged and passed load test as well.

 

[SnoKing]

I am still betting on a battery problem.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Truck fired up on its own. Took it to a warm shop and thawed it out for 24 hours. Has been running for a full day with no cranking problems. Literally haven’t done anything to it but thaw it out and drive. It’s sitting outside at -10 for the night. Will see what it acts like In the am.

 

[Ozymandias]

Maybe that was all it needed, some execise after sitting for such a long time.
Who knows...

 

[SnoKing]

Truck fired up on its own. Took it to a warm shop and thawed it out for 24 hours. Has been running for a full day with no cranking problems. Literally haven’t done anything to it but thaw it out and drive. It’s sitting outside at -10 for the night. Will see what it acts like In the am.

While working for NCR in the 1970's they sent me to Anchorage, AK for a winter to work on the electronic accounting machine I was good at fixing. I flew to Fairbanks for a few days. The local field tech had a spare vehicle, an old early 60's Chevy panel truck with I-6. He said there was no place to plug it in at night at the motel I was staying at night. It was -35 to 45 in the morning. So he gave me instructions on how to start it.

1. Hit the starter, the motor will not turn over, count to 60 while holding key in start position.
2. Count to 120 while waiting for the battery to warm it's self up from step one above.
3. Start the truck. Note: It turned over very slowly at first and slow picked up speed until it finally fired off.

Really cold batteries do not put out much power. A couple cycles of grid heaters should help them warm up, as the electronics will abort start process, so you can not use the Alaska method.

 

[DonFitzwater]

All I can think is this truck possibly had a significant amount of moisture inside the starter itself. After a good thaw in the garage the truck is starting like a champ. When the problem was present, we could hit the start button and the starter would make the typical engagement SNAP! but with zero turning of the starter. The starter wasn't even attempting to turn as the lights wouldn't dim like you would expect with a significant load like a starter motor would put on the electrical system.

Now the darned thing has popped up DEF codes for non functioning DEF tank gauge circuit. Off to the dealer for more emissions crap. Glad it's still in the federal emissions warranty. Truck only has 39k miles on it.

 

[SnoKing]

All I can think is this truck possibly had a significant amount of moisture inside the starter itself. After a good thaw in the garage the truck is starting like a champ. When the problem was present, we could hit the start button and the starter would make the typical engagement SNAP! but with zero turning of the starter. The starter wasn't even attempting to turn as the lights wouldn't dim like you would expect with a significant load like a starter motor would put on the electrical system.

Now the darned thing has popped up DEF codes for non functioning DEF tank gauge circuit. Off to the dealer for more emissions crap. Glad it's still in the federal emissions warranty. Truck only has 39k miles on it.

I stand by my aborted start because of low voltage! Just saying!

 

[DonFitzwater]

I stand by my aborted start because of low voltage! Just saying!

You may stand by whatever guess you make. I tested with a meter and start was not being aborted. Your theory is not sound. The starter motor simply wasn't turning and was drawing no current.

 

[Newsa]

You may stand by whatever guess you make. I tested with a meter and start was not being aborted. Your theory is not sound. The starter motor simply wasn't turning and was drawing no current.

I think if the abort start was initiated due to low voltage (possibly due to grid heater draw or batteries not working properly in cold weather) ..... The starter motor drawing no current would be a perfect symptom! It is possible that one of the many checks the ecm does could prevent a start. Especially since it was recently in battery saver mode?

 

[DonFitzwater]

I think if the abort start was initiated due to low voltage (possibly due to grid heater draw or batteries not working properly in cold weather) ..... The starter motor drawing no current would be a perfect symptom! It is possible that one of the many checks the ecm does could prevent a start. Especially since it was recently in battery saver mode?

That would be an excellent assumption if no power were present on the trigger wire for the starter, however, power remained. Again, the theory is invalid.

 

[SnoKing]

That would be an excellent assumption if no power were present on the trigger wire for the starter, however, power remained. Again, the theory is invalid.

What, additional information? Have you stated that earlier in the thread?

 

[DonFitzwater]

What, additional information? Have you stated that earlier in the thread?

Yes, after your "stand by" comment. As previously mentioned also, the batteries are new and were load tested prior to installation.

 

[AH64ID]

The starter motor simply wasn't turning and was drawing no current.

It does sounds like an aborted start with that statement. If the starter received power to snap then it was drawing current, the snap also means that it at least spun a little bit to engage the bendix.

So I'd be looking for something else other than moisture in the starter.