Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Starter hanging up again!!

[gitchesum]

Even after I completely rebuilt the starter solenoid. Replaced the plunger and everything.



It's been fine for the past several months. Now it's done it twice in the past 2 days. When I had this problem before, I could stop the engine by putting it in gear and letting out the clutch. Now, when I try this trick, the starter stays engaged and I have to take the battery terminals off to make it stop. THis last time, I even had to get under the truck and tap the solenoid to make it dis-engage.



Any other ideas beside pulling the starter and checking it over. (I've already decided that this needs to be done). I hoping that it's just a contact out of alignment.



Could anything else be causing the problems?

 

[JohnE]

I don't really see how the contact alignment could be off. They really didn't twist much for me. If you have LarryB 24 volt contacts it may bother.



Are you sure it is the solenoid hanging up? Maybe the starter relay is sticking. Probably not if you have tapped the solenoid to make it disengage.



I'd look below the solenoid and into the bendix mechanism. They must function absolutely fluid smooth. Many times I've seen the gear clutch bind. The nose gear may be binding to the flywheel.



Good luck finding the problem and SOON.



-John

 

[danandamy]

This happened to me on the way home from Muncie. Was at the inlaws one night and went to start the truck and it hung up. It's only been a year on the solenoid rebuild so I was like "WHAT THE?" It was so bad that not only did I have to take the cables loose to stop it, when ever I'd hook the cables back up it was still hung!! I don't know if it was really the problem or not but what I finally did was swap the starter relay out with an extra. All I know is I hooked the cables back up and itwasn't engaged anymore. Hasn't done it again since so my fingers are crossed.



hangin' up dan

 

[gitchesum]

Hangin up Dan.



I've considered changing the relays as well just to be on the safe side. You get them a Dodge or is there another source? I don't know, maybe NAPA. .



I'll be pulling the starter this afternoon so I'll have some ind of answer then. Of course, as always, I'll take pictures.

 

[JohnE]

I've heard various sources on the relays. I believe they are produced by Siemens. The lease expensive someone reported was a Radio Shack replacement for around $5



I did the solenoid rebuild back in May (one contact about 60% gone) and eveything is/was great. Now I have an intermittant dead start circuit. Either the switch on the key is going bad or the relay is going. I suspect the relay.



Good luck