Truck won't crank..... Stranded @ home!

[JLEONARD]

Why am I still having intermittent Starting Issues???

I had intermittent problems with a (hanging head low) Ford gasser. Rebuilt starter acted mint for a couple of months.

Then... . I began to have troubles similar to whatyou are describing.

I refused to believe it was the starter itself. Checked and replaced all the electrical stuff including the battery.

Finally I pulled it off and when I shook it it sounded like a bucket of bolts. The front bushing was almost non-existant. It was rattling. It was causing the starter to side load so severely that the starter could not turn. Loaded the whole system down... all it would do was "click,click" when I turned the key.

New starter, never again a problem... with the engine starting that is.

Jay

 

[bgilbert]

Well all, I have my starter down at the moment, super contacts and plunger about to go in, the old contacts are have some worn spots, original starter wow. IS there anything else I can/should check before I reinstall the starter? Bill

 

[bgilbert]

Keeno looks like we're in the same boat, install my contacts in the starter from my 91 which was in alot better condition than my 89's starter, got it back on the truck and CLICK, CLICK, tap on the starter a few times and NOPE no start, only CLICK CLICK!!!! Did I forget something? Didnt install contacts and plunger correctly? Bill

 

[LarryB]

Have you guys tried jumping from the battery lug on the starter to the trigger wire? If it cranks, then you might not be getting enough current from the switch circuit to the solenoid. Maybe due to corroded connections, worn switch etc. I have seen this on some other vehicles.



This is such a common problem on Suzuki Samurais that the fix is to add a relay to provide more current.



bgilbert

did you make sure to get the coil wire under the battery side lug when you installed the contacts? (see the red wire connected to the right contact on the picture below)



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[bgilbert]

Larry I'm not sure if I did. Its running now, and started three times already. Hopefully I didnt forget. What would happen if I forgot that wire? Bill

 

[LarryB]

It would just click, if that. You must have got it if it starts.



Larry

 

[KEENO]

Thanks for the tip Larry B!



I'll try that tomorrow if I get a chance. Still having starting issues throughout the weekend tho... ... . I had to 'whack' the starter a few times to make things spin.



Larry (or others): How do you know when the starter is actually bad? The armature in my starter had a bit of 'end play' in it when we had it out for the Super Contact install on Thurs. Lunchtime.



If I had low voltage going to the 'trigger wire' for the solenoid... . Why does 'whacking' it w/ a shaped piece of hickory allow it to start?



TIA... ... KEENO

 

[boatpuller]

Sounds like it might need brushes.



Caleb

 

[LarryB]

Originally posted by KEENO



If I had low voltage going to the 'trigger wire' for the solenoid... . Why does 'whacking' it w/ a shaped piece of hickory allow it to start?



TIA... ... KEENO

Near as we can figure, with low current to the solenoid coil the plunger doesn't have enough strength to engage the starter and seat the contacts enough to turn the starter motor. Giving it a tap jars the contacts or plunger enough to allow current to pass. Your problem could also be a bad solenoid coil.



Try the jumper trick and let us know what you find.



Larry

 

[bgilbert]

Keeno, when you had the starter down, did you look inside the starter case? Removed the two long bolts and check the condition of the brushes and armature? Thats what my problem was as everyone said, the brushes were GONE. Opened the case and it was full of black powder- what was left of the brushes. Removed the starter from my 91 and the brushes were in great shape so I installed the contacts and plunger in it and put it in my 89. Now I'm waiting for info on brushes part numbers so I can rebuild the bad starter and get the 91 moving again. A rebuild shouldnt cost no where near the cost of a new one. Good luck. Bill