Archived starter wont dis-engage

[JGuyton]

hey all,... . got a 94, 12V, the truck starts, runs, idles just fine... but the starter wont dis-engage... just keeps whining!... plus, when i turn the ignition switch back to the "off" position (to try and stop the motor), the engine keeps running and starter continues to stay engaged, as if i had done nothing. I remove the negative battery cables from the posts to shut off the motor. I put a new fuel shut-off solenoid on it in July. I replaced the starter relay in the "power distribution center" with another one that was in there, and even changed the ignition switch, I did not install the wiring harness that comes with it, though. Any idea whats going on there? What am i missing? Think that fuel shut-off solenoid is bad?

sorry to be so long winded,

thanks,

james guyton

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Sounds like the starter contacts are sticking. If it happens again, try tapping on the starter with a screwdriver or something similiar. If you have time, pull the starter and check the contacts, I'll bet either one or both is wore out.



If it ends up being the contacts, look into getting them from here- http://www.fostertruck.com/dodge/default.htm

 

[bmoeller]

I would check to see if the + battery cable is rubbed thru, touching the wire that goes to the ignition. That would keep the starter engaged. Had that happen to one of our Mack trucks.



Not a problem with the shut off solenoid.

 

[ScottLewis]

Starter solenoid contacts are stuck. That feeds back to shutdown solenoid and keeps engine running. If it's not too late, contacts from Larry B will fix it. Otherwise you need a new starter and perhaps more. Burned wires, etc.



Dan

 

[RON'S RAM]

Same thing happened to me, but I realized it immediately & disconnected the batteries. Installed new starter contacts from Larry B. No problems since.

Good Luck

 

[JGuyton]

thanks for the replies! i forgot to mention this in the original post... I pulled the starter, took it to the place that rebuilt it 2 yrs. ago and checked it on the bench and the guy says it seems to be fine and that maybe i have a switch problem.



Do you guys still think its the starter contacts/solenoid?



If so, i'll be glad to pull it and just have it rebuilt again and be done with it. (or get some replacement contacts from Larry B and do it myself)

thanks for all the help,

james

 

[Joe Mc]

As far as taking it some where to be rebuild again - nix. Get Larry's contact and plunger kit - do it yourself.



I'd look at the wiring like the others have suggested too, especially while you have the starter out.

 

[LandShark]

thanks for the replies! i forgot to mention this in the original post... I pulled the starter, took it to the place that rebuilt it 2 yrs. ago and checked it on the bench and the guy says it seems to be fine and that maybe i have a switch problem.



james

The guy is just plain lazy. It takes 5 minutes to disassenble the starter and give it a proper look. The contacts often are intermittent when they start to go bad. Bench testing doesn't put nearly the load on the starter that our engines do.



BTW: This is a very common problem with 2nd gens.

 

[RON'S RAM]

Installing the new contacts is a pretty straight forward job. Just be sure contacts stay flat with plunger as you tighten them, or only one side will wear. You'll see what I mean when you start to tighten the new contacts. Could be a short in the wiring somehwere, but I'd bet on the contacts.

 

[JGuyton]

10-4, we're heading in the direction of the contacts... thanks again