3b wouldn’t start

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Joined
May 4, 2008
Threads
40
Messages
378
Location
Northwest Montana
I have a 1985 BJ 60, with a turbo 3B. Was completely rebuilt last spring. Running great. Recently I drove about five hours, stopped the car for about half an hour, and wouldn’t start, not even turn over.
This is not the edic either.
I checked that first, took the arm off, was not it.
It’s like it wasn’t getting power to the starter, it would have the gauge lights come on I could hear the glow relay clicking, I have a Wilson switch a well, But nothing would make it turn over, It was like it wouldn’t engage the starter. It’s a new starter about 2 years ago.
Since then it has been working fine, but I could not get it to start for about an hour, and then randomly it just started. I checked grounds, and clean them, but it didn’t seem to matter because it it wouldn’t work even after I did this.
Any ideas?
Thank you!
 
If your batteries are good and this is a no crank, put a voltmeter on the trigger wire at the starter to see if it's getting any voltage at all when you turn the key. Check fuses and fusible links if showing no voltage. After checking power supply if it's getting no voltage (or some, but not enough to throw the plunger to the contacts), follow the wiring back to the starter relay and check its leads. Follow what you find (or don't find). If it's originating from a worn old key assembly they are rebuildable apparently, though I have never had one done.

Starting with the basics of ensuring all connections are good, is a good start.

hth's
gb
 
I'm not 100% familiar with your vehicle but most 3Bs are wired like most 2Hs. The 2H based vehicles have a starter relay, usually in the passenger footwell, this relay does suffer from pitted contacts which causes an intermittent No Crank fault.
 
I went the through the grounds again and it hasnt done it since, so Im guessing and hoping that was the problem. I had just done them a couple a months ago though. Thanks for all the help! hoping it stays away.
 
So I had this problem again, its rare but frustrating when it happens. Was driving about 3 hours, stopped for 10 minutes, and when I went to start, the same thing. Can hear glow plug relay, but nothing happening with starter, nothing turns over, its not EDIC, not fuel as nothing is even trying to crank.
Checked grounds again, and even took apart starter relay, it looked clean with no corrosion so I put back together, didnt change anything. Then after about 30 minutes it did randomly work.
I was searching today, and came across the below link with a guy who had the same problems, and it turned out to the be the starter relay not making good contact. So I havent tested this yet, but curious if its my culprit. Doesnt seem like many have this problem, but figured I would post. I will test next time it happens.


 
I haven't had this issue on my cruiser but I did have it on my VW bug. There is more than the starter relay to check. When the starter gets hot and the metal expands the contacts in the starter may no longer connect. Driiving for a while will get it hot enough in warm weather and prevent it from starting and then when everything is cool 1 hour later and back to normal size it connects and starts. A faulty EDIC will prevent the engine from starting but has nothing to do with it turning over. The way to check it is to put a test light on the black/white wire off the starter relay to the starter and if it lights when you hit the key than your relay is good. Unfourtunatley the quick fix is to replace/rebuild the starter.
 

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