Kick starting my truck

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Fellow owners.
A question. The other day a friend mentioned the battery in his new car just died. Since I have a '97, there is a greater chance I may on day find my batteries unable to start my truck. So I thought I would see how easily my Diesel would kick start. To my dismay it would not. The engine turns over easy enough on a hill in 2nd or 3rd gear but with the ignition in run position the engine would not start. Why wouldn't my truck start and what can I do about it????

 

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Denis, The only thing I can think of off the top of my head is that the electric fuel shut off solenoid on the side of the injection pump is interlocked with the neutral and/or clutch safety switches. The only way I know to check if that would be the cause is to manually hold open the shut off solenoid while you "kick start" the truck. A zip tie would probaby do the trick. Of course you must already be parked at the top of a hill first and shut the truck off before you tie the solenoid open.
As my truck has a juice transmission, I opted to do some surgery to the battery mounts and mount a pair of group #31 (oversize) batteries rated at 1,300 CCA @ F under the hood.
BTW--Both my stock (wimpy) bateries died within the first 3 years #ad


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Dean Jahnz
Black '94 dually (first on the block!), TST 230hp, Transgo shift kit, combo guage, 28' gooseneck camper/hauler, '83 Toyota extreme terrain 4x4.
My motto: The Most is Barely Enough!

 

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Denis usually your batteries will give you warning before they go. Slow cranking the first time you crank the truck up for the day, is the first warning. The battery could short out suddenly. Which could leave you stranded? I believe in your owners manual it highly recommends not to start it by pushing. If your battery shorts out borrow someone's battery to get yours started then get to a battery dealer. You mite be able to use your passenger side battery but it will be probably shorted out also, or wore out like the drivers side one. My batteries wore out at same time. Had customer with two shorted ones.

 

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You cannot start your truck without battery power. The "run" solenoid is only strong enough to hold the fuel pump in the "run" position. It is pulled into that "run" position by a "start" winding. If you never hit "crank" on the ignition switch (with plenty of battery power), the pump will stay shut off. You could turn the switch on, manually pull the lever into the run position, and then push it, but it still requires SOME battery power to keep the solenoid engaged. Shutoff occurrs by spring tension, so a lack of power kills it.

Moral of this story:

HAVE GOOD BATTERIES AND DON'T LEAVE YOUR LIGHTS ON!!!!!!!!

I heard an echo from Florida on that one, so I'm going to assume that shout was loud enough... #ad




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ICQ 3807791 (BBSMan)Home Domain www.my2kcity.com (Under construction)
Email powerwagon@mymailbag.com
12 Valve Forum moderator and Procrastinator extraordinaire...
Tow-er '65 Power Wagon Crew Cab, Tow-ee '70 Boles Aero 28'

 

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Rig up cable control to pull the fuel pump on and you should be able to start it on a hill with no power.

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96 CC 4X4 2500 SLT AUTO transmission, PrimeLoc, ISSPRO EGT Boost transmission Temp, GUTTED CAT, 150,000+ Miles still goin' strong, Lots of Ham Radio gear, NO IGNITION NOISE!!! Love my diesel!!!

 

[Archive]

Turn the key to ON, reach down under the fuel shut off solenoid and pull up on the linkage until you can feel it stay up. Bump start as needed. #ad


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1972 Chinook class C with 96/215 5spd, 4/5" exh, 4"BD, MagHytec, 85gal fuel, K&N RE0880, AutoMeter, 370's, BD gov kit, BD afc kit, 16cm, 16%btdc, yada-yada-yada
www.fostertruck.com/cummins