Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Fuel shut off solenoid question

[MAngelotti]

On my 96 2500 is it true that the fuel shut off solenoid will not lift until the ignition is in the start position? I have been lifting it by hand for a while until I could get a new one. It does hold but wont lift. It started in extremely cold weather then when it warmed up a bit it would work off and on now only by hand.

 

[TStrite]

Yes that is true. It is probably not the solenoid itself that is bad. It is probably the fusible link coming off the driver side battery or there is a relay to the left of the brake booster that could be bad. There will be 2 relays there together it is the larger one.

 

[tony597fitter]

Heres some good info on how it works. You can also buy replacement parts there.



LarryB's Dodge starting problems solved here.

 

[Bob V]

TStrite is correct. check out Foster Truck . They will have what you need no mater what it is, I think it is the relay.

 

[Bob V]

Opps, I guess that Tony beat me to it

 

[Dave M]

You could try cleaning and oiling the plunger on the solenoid. Mine was intermittant and that worked for me.

 

[KSams]

Same thing happened on my 94. It was the relay on the firewall. Pull one out of the fuse box to test

 

[MAngelotti]

Thanks I put in the new relay and all is ok. Guess I have a spare solenoid now!

 

[tgordon]

You could try cleaning and oiling the plunger on the solenoid. Mine was intermittant and that worked for me.

Maybe thats what I need to do, mine has been intermitant now for a while with no ryme or reason. The relay is fine and have power to the from the battery.



Troy

 

[Dave M]

I removed the solenoid and cleaned and oiled it. I bought a relay just in case but never used it. The truck would fail to start (pull up) unless I pulled it manually up. Somrtimes it worked sometimes I had to pull it up. I used brake cleaner to clean it and a silicone spray lube to oil it.



That was 2 months ago since I cleaned it and no problem since. Its worth a try.

 

[Joe G.]

I got a note from a guy yesterday that his solenoid rod had rusted in the lever from the injection pump. He had to free it up with vise grips and then lubed it. Works fine now. Mine is still rust free, but I think I will give it a shot of lube at oil change time from now on. BTW WD40 is NOT a lube. It's a water displacement compound. I use LPS for lubing stuff like this.

 

[ABarry]

I was the wire on mine, at the battery soon as it touched it, it fell off.

 

[tgordon]

I checked at the relay and had 12 volts from the battery, touched the relay directly to the battery and it will click, guess I should have checked the relay for continuity while closed, but I am suspecting I need to pull the solinoid and clean up the shaft. Wouldn't have anything to do with driving in a salt loving state like MI for 10 years#@$%!#@$%!