Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Larry B Super Contacts

[Fish On]

Did the super contacts last night. Overall a pretty easy job. That is once you break the starter bolts free. Holy cow, who ever put those on most of been one big hombre. After that piece of cake. What a great fix... hit the key and the truck fires up better than the day it was new. I am attaching a photo of my stock contacts taken out of my '96 with 154,000 miles on it. Oh yeah I did the plunger too. I would say as long as your in there do the whole mess, cheap and easy. If your truck is acting up on start-up this may be your problem.

 

[Piersol]

same thing

Mine looked identical to yours at 115,000 miles! You guys with 97's or older who have not done the repair should seriously consider it as preventive maintenance. At least buy them now and have them on hand. Cheap insurance.

 

[RON'S RAM]

Mine had around 80,000 when I had problems. Bought Larry B's kit a while ago and put on the shelf. I figured when the truck didn't start, I'd fix it. Only problem is that it started, but would not shut off. Starter stayed engaed, and engine would not shutoff. Disconnected both batteries, then it shutdown. The new contacts are much bigger than the factory ones, better than a new starter.

 

[MCummings]

Mileage isn't a big concern with the starter. It all depends on how much starting your truck does.



Mine were out at 100K, after Four Lift pumps, three VP44's, two injectors swaps (and a partridge in a pear tree??),,,,, needless to say,, the starter was being used a bunch! and was surely getting hot. We had one injector swap go a little screwy and spent several hours cranking away. 15 seconds cranking, 30 seconds cool,, that went on for about 2 hours.



As Larry has said on the 'boards before, the reason one contact wears out before the other is because the way the electrcity flows through them, there is more load on one contact than the other, causing one side to wear out prematurely, making the starter "click" or "hang". A "hanging" starter is bad, and can lead to electrical fires, and on a 12V truck, can fry the shut down/start solenoids.



Replace them at the first sign of malfunction.



Merrick Cummings Jr

 

[wcjp]

Mine looked just like that at 140,000 miles.

 

[Cooker]

I did not think this was all too big of a deal until one day at 115k the starter stayed engaged. I guess I thought it wouldn't happen to me. I am getting ready to do my fathers truck with 80k on it. I don't think he will be as quick to jump out and figure out a way to get the starter to disengaged.



A very worth while investment in time and $$$

 

[nfox]

Starter contacts

My friend has a 96 ram 5-speed and lately he has been having trouble getting his pickup started, when he turns the key it just clicks, and after a couple of times turning the key it will turn over and start up, is it the starter contacts, or something else?

 

[MCummings]

99% it's the Contacts.



Merrick Cummings Jr

 

[Jff24Gordn]

Did it last night. A 3/8" socket will not get to one of the bottom bolts even with a swivel. I didnt have any wobble extensions or 1/4" 10mm 12 point, but it might have worked. A cheater bar on a 10mm box end 12 point wrench will work.

The rest of it was easy, but why would you disconnect the battery?? You will lose all of your radio presets. Didnt take mine off, only sparcked it once. The ne contact didnt look very healthy, but wasnt as bad as above with 132k on the odometer.

 

[champspa]

mine started clicking at 140000 and I put Larry B's contacts in and like new again.

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by Jff24Gordn



The rest of it was easy, but why would you disconnect the battery?? You will lose all of your radio presets.

You wouldn't say that if you accidentally touched the chassis with the wrench while disconnecting the positive cable. I guarantee you with two batteries feeding it the wrench would get hot enough to burn your hand in a fraction of a second.

 

[MCummings]

Originally posted by illflem

You wouldn't say that if you accidentally touched the chassis with the wrench while disconnecting the positive cable. I guarantee you with two batteries feeding it the wrench would get hot enough to burn your hand in a fraction of a second.

Would you then be "Caught red handed?"



Merrick Cummings Jr

 

[Jff24Gordn]

Well, I used a ratchet, not a wrench. And it didnt arc till I rubbed the dried mud off of the driveshaft. Then it was very brief. Also, I only have 1 battery hoooked up right now, so no 1500 amps in my hands.