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

[BigPapa]

Well, I'm finally starting to have problems with my 500K mile fuel shut-off solenoid. It's sporadically not pulling up. Sometimes it will, sometimes it won't. I checked the connector with a test light and the pull up terminal doesn't illuminate the test light as brightly as the hold up terminal telling me I'm not getting full voltage. I didn't have my volt meter handy so I don't have accurate measurements. I'll check it tomorrow.

I'm thinking the relay on the firewall may be going bad. What say you?

 

[fest3er]

Well, I'm finally starting to have problems with my 500K mile fuel shut-off solenoid. It's sporadically not pulling up. Sometimes it will, sometimes it won't. I checked the connector with a test light and the pull up terminal doesn't illuminate the test light as brightly as the hold up terminal telling me I'm not getting full voltage. I didn't have my volt meter handy so I don't have accurate measurements. I'll check it tomorrow.

I'm thinking the relay on the firewall may be going bad. What say you?

I would sooner suspect the solenoid itself. Mine had become flaky a while ago. I knew the rubber boot had failed years ago and things were probably rusty.

I took it apart and found the plunger a little rusty. But parts of the rubber boot had been pulled in with the plunger and caused most of the sticking. After cleaning and applying crocus cloth, it worked like new. But since Cummins Atlantic's price was reasonable, I bought a new one anyway; enough salt is put down around here in winter and other parts of the solenoid and mount were corroded enough to warrant replacing it.

 

[BigPapa]

Well, got to test it today. Put 12V directly to it and it sounds like it's going to throw the plunger through the top of it every time. Going to try a relay.

 

[BigPapa]

The relay fixed it up. Solenoid is still going strong.