Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Starter Not Running

[BGarofalo]

Well for the last few days my 95 has been having an intermitent start. It is not that the engine wont fire but that the the starter isnt turning over. I turn the key on and it doesnt do anything. When the starter does go it sounds fine; just now it isnt going at all. Im not big into wiring so what should I look for? I can tell you that I already changed the starter contacts about 6 months ago. I just want to get an idea of what to look for before I go searching...

 

[arthr31]

If you turn the key to start and it doesn't turn the starter over, I'd think it is the starter. Have you tried hitting it with a 2x4 and then turning the key again? What have you done to get it cranking when it wasn't?

I'm beginning to wonder how much effect the new salt crud they are putting on the roads in the Northeast and what it is doing to our trucks... .

 

[BGarofalo]

When it does start I dont do anything. Sometimes it will start and other times I turn the key on and off a few times then it spins. Now i cant get it to turn. I will try wacking it a few times. I guess I could have someone hold the key on while I see if there is power to the starter selonoind. Is that correct?

 

[hsmith]

Yep, check the voltage at the little wire on the starter while someone holds the key in the start position. If there is battery voltage, then the starter is the culprit. If no voltage, then check neutral switch or ignition switch. Coroded battery terminals can also cause the problem.

 

[BGarofalo]

Well just to let you know what happened I found there was voltage going to the starter wire with the ignition on. I then proceded to beat the starter with a hammer a few times and then it worked. I guess its time to have the starter rebuilt.

 

[RON'S RAM]

More than likely it is the starter contacts. Sometimes when tightening down the new ones, they will turn a little not allowing full contact with the plunger and will cause a bad connection. Just take them out again & see if there are any signs of arcing or abnormal wear.

 

[GOlsen]

And now to dredge up an old topic... so I've been having the same types of problems with my starter. It seems to only have a problem when the engine's hot. Once I let it cool down for a few hours, it works fine. I ordered a set of Larry B's contacts, and am waiting for them to get here. Anything else I should check? Also, something that may be related, I installed a valet switch, and placed the solenoid in the area where the under hood fuse box is. After driving around for a while, the solenoid would overheat and fail shut, so I disconnected it. Could heat in that area cause a relay to fail? When I try to start, the starter just clicks, but doesn't turn. Sorry for the long post, just trying to get this taken care of. TIA.

 

[RON'S RAM]

Not sure what the heat has to do with it, but my father had a van that did the same thing. After driving for a long time, the starter would not work. But when cooled off it worked fine. We replaced the contacts and it's been fine ever since. When installing the new contacts, just be sure to hold the plunger down tight against the contacts as you tighten them so they do not turn on you. You'll see what I mean when you take it apart and look at it.

Good luck,

Ron

 

[GOlsen]

Not sure what the heat has to do with it, but my father had a van that did the same thing. After driving for a long time, the starter would not work. But when cooled off it worked fine. We replaced the contacts and it's been fine ever since. When installing the new contacts, just be sure to hold the plunger down tight against the contacts as you tighten them so they do not turn on you. You'll see what I mean when you take it apart and look at it.
Good luck,
Ron

Thanks for the info Ron. I really hope the contacts do the trick, I don't really feel like chasing gremlins.

 

[Bob Cochran]

Interesting my 01 is doing the same thing as yours. I put in some Larry B's contacts a couple weeks ago and no problem with lots of starts since(I thought it was solenoid contact problem). Fact day before yesterday it would not start then it did that after noon. Yesterday it started multiple times during the day then this morning no start and at this point still not starting. Well if I got to take the starter out again I am getting good practice removing that top starter bolt!!!

 

[GOlsen]

Mmm... interesting. I'm still waiting for my contacts to show up, so I don't know how they'll work for me. Another thing I was thinking about was maybe a problem with Park/neutral switch. I don't know why it wouldn't work only when it's hot though.

 

[Howard Durand]

While you are at it, get a solenoid protection diode. Larry B has a kit that is not too expensive and can save you the cost of a shutdown solenoid as well as a lot of misery.

My starter was not even clicking, it started every time. The last time it started, the contacts stuck and I drove the truck about 2 miles with the starter running all the way. The shutdown solenoid exploded and the truck died. The starter was still turning the engine over. It finally quit but both starter and solenoid were fried.



I had the new larger contacts at home in a drawer waiting for me to find time to change them out. I never had time to do that but did find time to change out the starter and solenoid. Total cost of about $500

 

[GOlsen]

Thanks for the advice Howard, I'll def. look into that

 

[RON'S RAM]

I had the new larger contacts at home in a drawer waiting for me to find time to change them out. I never had time to do that but did find time to change out the starter and solenoid. Total cost of about $500[/QUOTE]



Don't you hate that you can always find the time when it breaks, then you also need to spend lots more money? I think most of us know that feeling.

The diode idea is a good thing to add while doing the contacts to eliminate a future problem when there's no time.

 

[GOlsen]

Put the contacts in last night, everything going well so far (only about 4 starts since then). The old contacts looked like there was some arcing going on, not sure if that's normal or not. Either way, those contacts are a much better piece than those stock ones. Time will tell how this works out. I'm also going to go ahead and order that diode soon. Thanks for all the advice.