Archived Fuel Shutoff Solenoid Question HELP!!!

[ASTAR]

My buddys 96 CTD wont start unless I hold down the fuel cutoff solenoid plunger. The question is what goes bad the plunger assembly or the relay on the fire wall. I know that this a common Cummins problem so someone must know.

Thanks

 

[mstimac]

Usually it's the relay if the plunger stays up after you start the truck. The pull up relay is high amps and usually goes bad. Check the connector plug going to the solenoid. With the key in run, one pin will have 12V, with it in start the other one will also. If I remember correctly there are 3 wires so the last pin will be ground. Bought my last relay from NAPA, it was around $40. Dealer wanted $65 and three days to get it.

 

[Got Smoke?]

You have to hold it UP or DOWN to get it to start?



Normally you have to pull one up to the run position when having probs. Check out my readers rigs gallery, I had a whole gallery devoted to the dismantling of the shutdown solenoid relay to check the contacts.



Another EASY thing to check that I missed was the small blue wire (fuseable link to the solenoid) on the Pos. post at the Drivers side battery. They easily corrade and lose power. Thank goodness Piers didn't have any solenoids with him @ TiM '04 or I'd been out $150 for something I ended up fixing for free!

 

[ASTAR]

Thanks guys. I'll check it out!

 

[GAmes]

I've had good luck with removing the solenoid aand cleaning the bore and plunger. The boot is probably toast which lets dust and moisture up into the bore.