Starting problems

[MMiller]

During Christmas I was out using the truck and shut it off. Went to restart after we were done sledding, and nothing, no click, no crank, nothing. I looked over the starter, the cable, the little two pin connector by the battery, and everything was clean and tight. I had my boy hold the key in the start position, and I tapped one time on the front side of the starter solenoid, and it started. It did it once in January, and I pulled the starter off suspecting the starter contacts. They were not bad, but I went ahead and put in the Larry B contacts. Friday night it acted up once, and then yesterday it acted up twice. I've got to get it fixed before I get stranded somewhere. The problem is, it only acts up when I'm away from home. I can go out now and it will start flawlessly 100 times. I'm going out to pull the starter back off, after checking all the connections. I'm also going to pull out the service manaul and find the relay, however I don't think this is the problem.



Anybody got any words of wisdom? The starter is original equipment, 240,000+ part.



Michael

 

[cerberusiam]

Solenoid is sticky or worn. Time for a new starter.

 

[Jgolden]

Went through the same deal. Warm days fine, cold no go... maybe go...

Took it off all the contacts looked good. Put it back together OK for a while ... then off and on.

Finally died for good (lucky for me in a campground) Took a nice tour of a Ashland,Ohio. Had a great lunch Found a place to rebuild it. (Mine is a little different from the Dodge model which is pretty easy to find. ) Major internal crap to clean out. Took a rebuild. Off Iwent.

It helps that my Cummins always tows a car wherever it goes, but I would say when you get it out replace it.

I am almost old enough to realize that most mechanical things won't heal themselves.

 

[PToombs]

Michael, brushes and/or bushings. Either have it rebuilt, or buy a new one. I pulled the one of my 89, bought a set of contacts, no difference. Opened it up farther, brushes were gone, and I mean gone! The wire was about all that was left. The bushings weren't too healthy either.

Everybody says to buy contacts, but look farther inside first!

 

[rvaughn801]

+1 on replacing the starter. I went the same way, replacing the contacts first. I got tired of finding someone to turn the key while I tapped the starter.

Installed a Napa lifetime warranty replacement, no problems since.

 

[MMiller]

Ok, I'm missing something here now, Pete. The starter will not click, engage, nothing, when it does act up. I don't see how brushes would effect the solenoid? Please help me undestand. If the starter clicked, but did not turn then I would understand the brushes being the problem.



FWIW I pulled the starter off yesterday. Pulled it apart and checked the ohms on the pull in coil, was about 3. 3 ohms. I did not pull it apart far enough to check the brushes though. I did check the voltaged from the relay, and when cranking, it would show 10. 5-11 volts. Of course yesterday it did not act up at all.



I also sent an email to Larry Buck, the starter guy. For another $35 I can buy brushes, and I was going to see how much a new pull in coil was. I guess today, I'll price another starter here local..... :{



Michael

 

[PToombs]

Yup, I missed that! Sorry Michael. No click at all sounds like no power to the solenoid, or a bad solenoid. I think I'd pull the starter apart and look inside. If it looks really crappy, brushes worn, bushings getting loose, I'd seriously look at a new one. The price of a solenoid has to be considered too. I bought one at PepBoys for about 135,140. It worked good for the year I had the truck.

If the insides look ok, try a solenoid and see what happens.

 

[Philip]

Michael I had about the same problem after SOP when my charging system died. There are two around 6 gage wires coming off the positive battery terminal. About 10" from the terminal there is swrink wrap on the wires. I had a loose connection on one of them.