Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Starter hung up,burn up lift coil,why

[Wayno]

There is a older couple that I am friends with that have a 97 Cab & Chassis , with a flat bed and a five speed . The last week or so sometimes when you are trying to start it it will crank over but will not start . When you let off the key and try again it still will not start but if you turn the key to the off position then try to start it again it will start . What is causing that ????? Well today they call me and told me that when they tried to start the truck for the first time this morning the starter stayed engaged and would not un- engaged when they turn the key off . So they left the key in the on position and it kept running (engine and starter)and smoke started coming out from under the hood and it finally shut it self down and with some help from another friend they figured out they burn up the lift coil , shut off valve , shut off solenoid , or what ever it is call'd . They got a new lift coil from the Dodge Dealer and did they ever get ~ well I have to be "Politically Correct" here now ~ it cost them four hundred and fifty dollars. After they put the lift coil on all the starter would do was just click so they call'd me . Well I went to look at the truck and I kept trying to start the truck and finally got the starter to work by working the key switch back and forth from the start to run position but sometimes it still will not start and run until you put the key switch in the off position then hit it again. I also got the starter to lock up again and I could not get the truck to shut off but I did jump out real fast and disconnected the lift coil to shut it down . Why is the starter hanging up ??????? I did swap the relays around ( in the black box on the driver side fender well ) but that didn't help anything . Also when the truck is running now (and the starter is not lock'd up) that lift coil gets real hot , is that normal . I need some help here cause I don't know nutten about a Sec. Gen.

 

[Joe G.]

DON'T try starting it again!! The starter contacts are shot. That causes the starter plunger to tilt and stick. This also completes the circuit thru the fuel solenoid pull up coil. This coil is for short duty only and stuck contacts will burn it up. During run after it has started there is a low current coil that hold the fuel solenoid in the pulled position. Get hold of user LarryB for new heavy duty starter contacts. His web site is:

http://www.fostertruck.com/dodge/

 

[Wayno]

Is that also the reason why it was (has been) not wanting to run till you turn the switch back to stop and try again ???????? Even if the starter is bad should the lift coil be getting hot even if you got it started with out the starter hanging up ??????? Also the DEALER told them that there was a re ~ design of the lift coil , the new one is much bigger . The bad part of all of this is that I had them order some things from Piers and they could of got a lift coil much cheaper from him , from what I read .

 

[SBozeman]

I had the same thing happen to me recently except I was able to get the starter to disengage. From that point on I had the battery cables loose and ready to disconnect until I could replace the contacts.



I went down to a starter rebuild shop near my home and bought two new over sized contacts for $3 a piece. It took about 45min to remove the starter and replace the contacts. Some folks have had trouble getting the starter out. I sprayed the starter bolts with WD40 the night before and they come right out with minimal effort.



Hope this helps.

 

[vssman]

Wayno,



The same thing happened to mine except I was able to beat the starter with a rock to disengage it. As you've been already informed, it's the starter contacts. Get them from Larry or you can try to find them locally. I found very few auto electrical shops would sell contacts - They wanted to sell you a whole new starter. My suggestion is to put a quick shut-off switch on the main power running down to the starter. Just in case it happens again. I also now carry a ballpeen hammer.

 

[grtescpa]

Originally posted by Wayno

There is a older couple that I am friends with that have a 97 Cab & Chassis , with a flat bed and a five speed . The last week or so sometimes when you are trying to start it it will crank over but will not start . When you let off the key and try again it still will not start but if you turn the key to the off position then try to start it again it will start . What is causing that ????? Well today they call me and told me that when they tried to start the truck for the first time this morning the starter stayed engaged and would not un- engaged when they turn the key off . So they left the key in the on position and it kept running (engine and starter)and smoke started coming out from under the hood and it finally shut it self down and with some help from another friend they figured out they burn up the lift coil , shut off valve , shut off solenoid , or what ever it is call'd . They got a new lift coil from the Dodge Dealer and did they ever get ~ well I have to be "Politically Correct" here now ~ it cost them four hundred and fifty dollars. After they put the lift coil on all the starter would do was just click so they call'd me . Well I went to look at the truck and I kept trying to start the truck and finally got the starter to work by working the key switch back and forth from the start to run position but sometimes it still will not start and run until you put the key switch in the off position then hit it again. I also got the starter to lock up again and I could not get the truck to shut off but I did jump out real fast and disconnected the lift coil to shut it down . Why is the starter hanging up ??????? I did swap the relays around ( in the black box on the driver side fender well ) but that didn't help anything . Also when the truck is running now (and the starter is not lock'd up) that lift coil gets real hot , is that normal . I need some help here cause I don't know nutten about a Sec. Gen.

Get yourself a set of Larry B's starter contacts for your replacement starter. The contacts he sells are twice the size of the old ones. I did my starter at 82k and just in time. One contact was almost burned away to a melt down.

 

[Philsram]

Starter problem

I have a 1995 3/4 ton auto cummins that had a similar problem. My starter would not turn over but when I went to the off position then back to start it would work. The end result was my starter shorted out my fuel shut off solenoid that cost me $600 to replace. I guess the bottom line is... ... . Replace the starter soon before it cost you.

 

[Wayno]

Thanks for all the replies , they went and got a rebuilt starter cause thats the only vehicle they have . We put the stater on and every thing seems to be working right . There sure not happy about paying that much for the lift coil when the rebuilt starter only cost $ 150. 00 . They turn off their AOL and I told them they need to turn it back on and join the TDR cause it would save them money and time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!