Starter problems

[Lug-nut]

I was leaving a local Sam's club with the wife and baby yesterday, and after starting the truck I heard a weird noise. I turned off the key, and the starter was still engaged and powered up. The engine was cranking with the key off and out of the ignition switch. :--) Turned the key back on, and truck started back up.



In the two minutes it took to disconnect both neg battery cables (only way to kill the starter), the smoke was rolling pretty good from under the truck. I was somewhat suprised that I didn't have a fire.



I assume that the contacter in the starter welded itself together, but I have never seen this happen before. I was wondering if anyone else has seen this?

 

[Groover]

Lug-Nut, Years ago I had a Ford that would continue to crank after engine was started. Struggled to solve the mystery for some time. Checked solenoid feed, replaced solenoid twice and still about once a month it would stick. Got to where I was so used to it all I would do is get out and bang the fender beside the solenoid and it would stop. Got to playing with other ideas and added a separate ground wire to the solenoid (it mounted on the fender and grounded through the mounting bolts) and later re-installed the original solenoid and problem solved. I later sold the truck bought a dodge cummins and have never looked back. Talked to the guy who bought the truck from me and it never happened again.

(yes I did warn him that it would possibly stick even though it had not happened in about a year before I sold the truck)



Question - Our solenoid is mounted on the starter isn't it. If I was closer to the truck I would just look.

 

[Lug-nut]

Yes the solenoid is mounted on the starter. Before I disconnected the cables, I tried to hammer on the starter with a 12 inch crescent wrench, but no luck. I also pulled the starter relay from the PDC but in the end the only thing that stopped it was the batt cables. I will remove the starter tonight and try to find what went wrong.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Starter

Yes, it is not uncommon, usually more likely with big starter load and low battery. I have read on here of several having that happen. bg

 

[Joe G.]

The smoke may have been from the fuel solenoid. There are two possible causes for this problem. The starter solenoid contacts hanging up and the fuel solenoid relay. It's the one on the fire wall nearest to the master cylinder.

 

[Chipstien]

Just curious....

What does a replacement starter run for our trucks and would a lifetime reman work from the local auto parts store.

 

[Lug-nut]

Re: Just curious....

Originally posted by Chipstien

What does a replacement starter run for our trucks and would a lifetime reman work from the local auto parts store.

Well, The only one available to me over the weekend was from NAPA. It was about $269. 00, and I don't know about the warranty as I had my wife pick it up and I installed it at 11:00 last night.

 

[Todd T]

what year is you truck??

this is a REAL common problem on the 12valves. is your truck a 24 or 12V?



BTW anyone interested, i have a post on the 12V section about replacment contacts and plungers for $16. 00 as long as the starters are the same.



if this is a problem that starts to plague the 24v trucks, you guys might start replacing these items instead of waiting unitil it burns the whole starter up like Lug Nuts did.



Lug, did your truck ever stick before or just the one time and caputt? most of us notice it several times, sometimes months before it sticks and burns on the 12v motors.

 

[Lug-nut]

Re: what year is you truck??

Originally posted by Todd T

this is a REAL common problem on the 12valves. is your truck a 24 or 12V?



BTW anyone interested, i have a post on the 12V section about replacment contacts and plungers for $16. 00 as long as the starters are the same.



if this is a problem that starts to plague the 24v trucks, you guys might start replacing these items instead of waiting unitil it burns the whole starter up like Lug Nuts did.



Lug, did your truck ever stick before or just the one time and caputt? most of us notice it several times, sometimes months before it sticks and burns on the 12v motors.

My truck is a 98 24 valve.



Now that you mention it, about 4 months ago it did it one time but it stopped within a second or two. Looking back, I should have taken it a little more seriously.



Thanks for the info.