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My starter problems I need some input please.

Dieseldad97

Dieseldad97

I now know why.
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Location
Altona, Manitoba Canada
Kinda ticked off the past few days. My starter would only click every now and then when it was extremely cold out. After turning the ign switch on and off several times the starter would decide to work.
Other day after my 12 hour shift it did it again. Enough. After going under the truck...in the freezing cold...in the snow, I whacked the starter, wiggled the wires and then it started. Enough!

Next morning this is where my beloved 6.5 ended up:

IMG-20110225-00074.jpg I bought a starter off another member here that was rebuilt so I was waiting for this day. Problem was I let one of my diesel buddies borrow it because he was doing his own starter trouble shooting. Of course after he installed my rebuilt starter on his truck, it started like a champ.
Well, a few weeks ago I tell him I need my starter back. He brings it back and says he sold his truck. All is good.
I pay to install my rebuilt starter at the local shop. We finish the job, lower the truck and guess what...I go to crank the engine and it don't work. Crap.
The mechanic thinks its the batteries, so we do this:
IMG-20110225-00073.jpg
I know its not the batteries, but he did a load test on them and found one of them a little weak. I say so what, its not that.

The hoist went back up and the starter came back out. We did a bench test and yeah...it would barely move. It was dragging to the point of ridiculous.


My buddy stiffed me and just gave me his shot starter I'm thinking. Nice.

View attachment 24857

I bought another used starter from an auto wrecking for 75 bucks and we installed that one. Lowered the hoist and my baby cranked like new. I pay the bill for 2 starter R&R and the 75 for the starter and I'm on my way.

This morning I go to start my truck...it's -20 outside. CLICK, CLICK, CLICK...I'm pissed. Wrong diagnosis. CRAP.

After clicking a number of times away she goes. Worked perfect the rest of the day.

After all this here is my question: I have had some issues with my multi-function switch, could this maybe be an issue with why I'm getting the no start? Maybe the ign switch itself? I don't understand this because when it clicks, its clicking by the solenoid so I am getting power to the starter.

Any help and suggestions would be awesome fellers. Sorry for the uber long post. Over and out.
 
used starter = used selenoid. try replacing the selenoid with a good one not a made in china $30 ebay special. I bought one recommended by a rebuilder for $60 made in brazil IIRC
 
bison said:
look trough the starter sticky
Click to expand...

I did. You did an excellent job with that thread. My issue is with the solenoid I'm thinking, and in your thread you didn't go into solenoid issues.

I find it hard to believe the solenoid would be to blame on the used starter...but I'll buy one and see if thats gonna cure my problem. What are the odds of the same click on 2 different starters. For some reason, I don't think its a solenoid problem. I guess we'll see. I've been wrong before.

When it warms up, I'm gonna go through the grounds also. Can't hurt.
 
Gerald, have you done the battery post mod? I had the same problem, fixed it by fixing the connection with the 2 positive cables and the little copper doughnut.
 
check your cables at the batteries.. lots of times the corrosion will creep up the cables under the plastic and cause problems... had it happen too us a couple winters ago with our 6.2l truck..... you are in manitoba right? whats our weather like for next week?...LOL
 
One weak batt can certainly cause a slow start.
As been said, batt/starter connections are often a culprit.

A used starter is always suspect if one doesn't know the history,especcially from a wrecker yard.
a prolonged start is hell for the brushes/armature and solenoid contacts(they overheat and burn)
 
How weak is a little weak? That may be indicating a bad connection or a bad battery.

The solenoid wire is suspect.
 
JiFaire said:
Gerald, have you done the battery post mod? I had the same problem, fixed it by fixing the connection with the 2 positive cables and the little copper doughnut.
Click to expand...

I did the battery post mod a few years back and have zero issues with charging since then Jim.

turbonator said:
check your cables at the batteries.. lots of times the corrosion will creep up the cables under the plastic and cause problems... had it happen too us a couple winters ago with our 6.2l truck..... you are in manitoba right? whats our weather like for next week?...LOL
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm in Manitoba...fricken cold these days. When the battery post mod was done, I took a knife and removed the shiething at the ends of the cables and they still look good IMO.


WarWagon said:
How weak is a little weak? That may be indicating a bad connection or a bad battery.

The solenoid wire is suspect.
Click to expand...

The weak battery is only a year old, and I'm thinking it was still drained a little from trying to start the truck the day before when I was stuck at work. I will check both of them in a day or two after I put some miles on and they get charged up again.

As for you guys thinking its a battery connection thing, the truck cranks and starts like a new truck does...when it stops clicking.

Good idea regarding the solenoid wire....hmm

Thanks for the help so far guys.
 
My rebuilt starter in my blazer will click like that every so often. I figured it was the solenoid, until it didn't do it for weeks, until i had to disconnect the batteries for something, then it started doing it again. Damn side post batteries. Undo, clean, and re-connect all your battery connections first and see if that helps.

Be sure to inspect battery cable from PS battery to starter for internal corrosion(bubbling in the cable) while your working on the battery connections.

Cold is brutal to batteries. You need close to 150% of the batteries output power when it's that cold, and there's only about 40% available from a healthy battery. Also if the batteries ever over-charged(in the truck or on a charger) then the solution in the batteries could be low, causing reduced output.


Edit:

Check out the starter relay as well. The connection from the ignition switch goes to a relay. That relay puts the power to the starter solenoid. At least that's how it is on my Blazer, and my friends mil spec blazer save for the relay is under the dash on the 80s trucks.

IIRC I believe that my 96 has a relay labeled "starter relay" in the underhood fuse box. Been a few months since i've looked under there though. The ol girl is still sleeping for the last bits of winter.
 
Have an ancient Diesel farm tractor that I,ve been nursing the starter along for quite some time . No problem getting enough current thru to close (click) the solenoid switch but to get enough current for the starter to crank the engine have to have all connections, negative & positive ,shiny clean & tight, to get rid of as much resistance as possible & have battery completely charged up. Plugged in it spins like a top.
 
Gerald, sounds awfully like the same issue I have had lately. Turn the key sometimes, no click, sometimes a click and no start. Then turn the key again and away she goes. I haven't got into it yet though. Too damn cold! Keep us posted.

Art
 
Lately I've had a problem with -25C and colder starts, I have no sol click or anything. If I have the ign. in the start pos. and rock the tilt steering up and down it will engage the starter.
 
BigArt said:
Gerald, sounds awfully like the same issue I have had lately. Turn the key sometimes, no click, sometimes a click and no start. Then turn the key again and away she goes. I haven't got into it yet though. Too damn cold! Keep us posted.

I will. Trust me!

Art
Click to expand...

NVW said:
Lately I've had a problem with -25C and colder starts, I have no sol click or anything. If I have the ign. in the start pos. and rock the tilt steering up and down it will engage the starter.
Click to expand...

This is why I was asking about the multi-function switch...it's got a whole bunch of wires leading to it and it's behind the tilt wheel. I'm also having trouble with my high beams when I move the tilt wheel up and down.

Whats up with our trucks guys??
 
Dieseldad97 said:
This is why I was asking about the multi-function switch...it's got a whole bunch of wires leading to it and it's behind the tilt wheel. I'm also having trouble with my high beams when I move the tilt wheel up and down.

Whats up with our trucks guys??
Click to expand...

Cold F'en Canadian winters Gerald.
 
bison said:
Art, could be your ig switch
Click to expand...

Yes, I have thought of that. It would be a shame if it is. I only replaced it a couple of years ago. I'll get into it further if/when the weather breaks. Anyway back to Gerald's problems. Good luck pardner.

Art
 
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