Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) ? Fuel Solenoid

[patrobertson]

12V truck won't start, I can lift the solenoid up and it will stay up with key on (and truck will start) but won't come up on it's own, I got Radio Shack relay but am uncertain if one on left or right? Is it close to booster or close to engine? Is there a way to jump it to check the solenoid? How do you do the pull cable suggested in one thread?

 

[jpearson]

Unplug the shutdown solenoid and put 12volts straight to it.

 

[RBrunson]

Its the one next to the booster, the larger of the two.

 

[Deezul1]

The stock relay can be opened up and the contacts cleaned to give it new life. Mine is working fine and I did that 6 mos ago.

 

[Got Smoke?]

Originally posted by Deezul 1

The stock relay can be opened up and the contacts cleaned to give it new life. Mine is working fine and I did that 6 mos ago.

I also did this about a month or two ago. No problem since.

 

[DSiemens]

Radio Shach relay

About 2 months ago I replaced the factory fuel solenoid relay with one from Radio Shack. How long do the R/S relays last? Mine is no longer pulling up the solenoid.

 

[illflem]

The RS relay should last as long as the stock one. Many times in replacing parts on an electrical problem you will accidentally temporarily fix it just by moving wires around, the new part might not have been the fix. Suggest you check the wiring/connections before replacing the relay again. Pay particular attention to the blue wire coming off the battery.

 

[redram]

Also check your starter contacts on the 96 12V. 20 dollar contacts may be worn putting load on the shurdown solenoid and eventual can "fry" the solenoid (which is a 300 ticket). (Speaking from experience, check the contacts now before the solenoid goes)



Illfem is right about the blue fusible link coming off the driver's side battery + terminal. If this is corroded, the relay amy not be drawing sufficient current / volts to operate efficiently.

 

[jlapeyrouse]

I just went through the same problem. It turned out to be the blue wire going to the drivers side battery.

 

[DSiemens]

Refreshed starter about 12 months ago, new contacts installed. Put the original starter relay back in and all is good. I will have to inspect the blue wire. Thanks.

 

[bnelson]

Fuel solenoid meltdown

At 102,000 my '97 BR 3500 started showing symptoms of the starter solenoid contacts going bad. The parts were about $10. 00 and I had them for about two months. Then I went to shut off the truck one time, and it kept running. In a few minutes it started behaving itself. About two weeks later it repeated the refusal to shut off thing. This time I think the starter had locked up engaged, applying current to both the "Pull-in" and the "Hold-in" circuits. I started disconnecting the battery cables to force it to shut off while I figured out the cause. Before I could get things disconnected, the fuel shut-off solenoid blew up. I elected to finish taking off the battery cables rather than calling the fire department; after the big bang, fireball & smoke, it got quiet. I was okay, as soon as I found some TP. The only other electrical damage was a 10 amp fuse, and one small wire coming off the positive battery post. (It fried the wire instead of the fusable link. )



The new solenoid from Cummins was $274. 00 plus tax; and it was about twice the size of the original. I fixed the starter the next day, also. Methinks procrastination cost me $300. 00. KTSSU & KIBTD. (Keep the shiny side up & Keep it between the ditches)