Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Truck won't start

[rKortan]

I just left a fuel stop and experienced a noise (pop), then an electrical smell. I pulled into a car wash to look under the hood and could smell a burnt electrical odor and hear a loud screeching sound. I shut the truck down to take a look and couldn't really see anything that looked wrong. I attempted to start the truck for a moment and it turned over but would not start. I had AAA tow it to Carson Dodge for diagnosis. Anyone have any ideas? Just my luck as I'm planning on leaving for a trip to Florida next Saturday.

I know it's old but my 94 with 156000 on it has been running great. I hope this isn't something that's real expensive. Thanks for your replies... ... ... . BK

 

[Ben Rumson]

Originally posted by rKortan

... experienced a noise (pop), then an electrical smell. ... could smell a burnt electrical odor and hear a loud screeching sound. ... turned over but would not start. ... my 94 with 156000 on it has been running great.

I may be totally off here, but have you fixed your KDP yet? This could possibly be the pin falling out and wedging behind the crank gear (noise, smell, screech, crank, but no start). . ?????



Did it seem to crank slower and did it make the loud screeching sound WHILE cranking it over?



- Ben



One more thought on the electrical smell... leave your key in the on position, open the hood, manually lift the fuel shutdown rod on the fuel shutdown solenoid till it stays in the "up" position, finish turning the key all the way to the start position. If it starts, then what you may be smelling is a blown set of coils (1 for hold and 1 for pull or start) inside the shutdown solenoid. $300 + part or you could do as I did and bypass it entirely with a $17 PTO cable from AWDirect. No more fusable link, 30 amp relay, or solenoid... ahhh, nice!

 

[rKortan]

Fortunately I did fix the Kdp. I hope the problem is as you suggest and not something more serious. I am going to let Carson Dodge work on it. I want to make sure everything is OK before I go to Florida next Sunday... ... ... ... ... BK

 

[Joe G.]

Make sure you check the starter contacts. The smell and screech may have been caused by a sticking starter burning up your fuel solenoid.

 

[Ben Rumson]

I agree with Joe.

Could be the starter contacts sticking.



Keep us posted when you've got it figured out.

 

[bmoeller]

Originally posted by Joe G.

Make sure you check the starter contacts. The smell and screech may have been caused by a sticking starter burning up your fuel solenoid.

 

[rKortan]

I hope it is not the starter contacts. I have had the new ones for about a week. I was going to wait until I'm in Florida to put them in. I was under the truck yesterday checking the installation process for the contacts. If this is the problem I will be really upset with myself for procrastinating. I should have listen to the advice of everyone in TDR and installed the contacts as soon as they were in my possession. I'll keep everyone posted so no one else makes the same mistake in the future... ... ... ... ... ... . BK

 

[Missouri Mule]

The screeching sounds like the starter stuck.

Burning of electrical component could be fuel shut off relay or fuel shut off valve, but does not usually pop when goes out. Plus yur truck stayed running.

How is your belt? You know the only one on the front of the engine.

 

[rKortan]

I just picked my truck up today from Carson Dodge. Everyone, please learn from my mistake of not changing the starter contacts as soon as I had them in my possession. After replacing the starter ( Rebuilt) from Napa, fusible link, fuel shutoff soleniod and paying to have Eric Benson do the work my wallet is now $1500. 00 lighter. The good part of this story is I was at home when the problen occured. The bad part is I could have avoided the whole thing if I had done the work myself last Thursday when I was under the truck evaluating the time I would need to install the starter contacts.

I guess the starter kept running and caused the fuel solenoid and the fusible link to burn up. By the time the starter quit it was gone also.

This has been an expensive lesson. Although the knowledge provided from TDR has saved me much more over the years, so I don't feel so bad. I came very close to looking at the new trucks but didn't really want to part with 45k for a new one. The tow truck driver thought my truck was a 2002 and was surprised when I told him it is a 94. Guess I'll try to make it last another 100k... ... ... ... ... ... BK

 

[Ben Rumson]

Originally posted by rKortan

... I guess the starter kept running and caused the fuel solenoid and the fusible link to burn up. By the time the starter quit it was gone also.

Thanks for keeping us posted. ... and don't kick yourself. Couldof, shouldof, wouldof,... you just never know when "now" is the last chance or you have twelve more ...



Sorry to hear about the problems and cost - ouch!



For future reference, when and if your fuel shutdown solenoid poos out, remember that you can very easily bypass the fusable link, 30 amp relay, AND fuel shutdown solenoid ($300 +) with a simple PTO cable for less than $25. And you eliminate all of the above gadgets. I did mine last January and it has worked flawlessly!! Keep your eyes in the Accessories forum and if I can borrow a neighbor's digital camera, I'll take some good pics and post for everyone.



Glad to hear you up and running again.