Real time STARTER help

[indycole]

Just curious, would it make sense to take the redundancy a step further with something like a solenoid that one uses in battery isolation setups? That could even be wired up to a remote switch.

 

[RET2]

The wheels are turning

 

[bjowett]

Considered, but the design won't easily allow for that. The solenoid not only bridges the gap to power the starter motor, but also pulls the engagement lever for the starter gear to engage the flywheel.

 

[RET2]

Guess I miss understood the purpose of the screwdriver thinking it was just to conduct 12v to the location?

 

[supercarrera]

Guess I miss understood the purpose of the screwdriver thinking it was just to conduct 12v to the location?

I've been thinking the same thing. So the screwdriver is so you can contact the solenoid positive terminal at the same time you hit the lead going to the starter?

 

[RET2]

How can it be in two places at once? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[bjowett]

This shows the workings of our starter. If the plunger contact wears/fails, the jumper solution will work, as the plunger continues pulling the engagement lever for the gear. If the plunger completely fails, the jumper solution will not work.

 

[TeCKis300]

Roughly 100% more effort. Just about nothing you need to remove for a water pump is the same as what you need to remove for a starter.

Appreciate it. Water pump now, and I'll save this fun for another time.

 

[skitym]

Does anyone have the part numbers for the gaskets that will need to be replaced when replacing the starter? I'm at 180,000 miles. Trouble free so far but better get prepared.

 

[art5519]

well, we had our first cold day of the season here in Texas (32F) and my truck (lc09 150k) will not start in the morning. I can start it fine with remote start, but can't get it started normally. All the lights look right, press the start button and nothing happens. I had starter replaced couple of years ago. Over time I've had some intermittent issues with starting the truck but always managed to start it after few troubleshooting steps. Thinking that whatever was intermittently working is finally gave up and it may be time for a tow truck.

 

[linuxgod]

well, we had our first cold day of the season here in Texas (32F) and my truck (lc09 150k) will not start in the morning. I can start it fine with remote start, but can't get it started normally. All the lights look right, press the start button and nothing happens. I had starter replaced couple of years ago. Over time I've had some intermittent issues with starting the truck but always managed to start it after few troubleshooting steps. Thinking that whatever was intermittently working is finally gave up and it may be time for a tow truck.

If the remote start works, sounds like the proximity sensor isn't detecting the key. Try holding the key fob up against the start button to see if it's detected and will start. Outside of that I'd replace the battery in the key fob first and/or try your spare key to see if the fob is bad.

 

[RET2]

It would seem that the issue is not with the starter but rather within the key fob?

 

[TonyP]

Possibly the push start button? I haven't heard of one failing though.

 

[TeCKis300]

well, we had our first cold day of the season here in Texas (32F) and my truck (lc09 150k) will not start in the morning. I can start it fine with remote start, but can't get it started normally. All the lights look right, press the start button and nothing happens. I had starter replaced couple of years ago. Over time I've had some intermittent issues with starting the truck but always managed to start it after few troubleshooting steps. Thinking that whatever was intermittently working is finally gave up and it may be time for a tow truck.

When my starter failed, I tried my remote starter with no luck as I recalled you had mentioned this.

I believe the relay wear that's ultimately causing this, over time builds up corrosion/pitting on the contact surfaces such that it creates a high resistance surface that progressively increases in resistance until in no longer works. That mixed with cold weather, which has the effect of reducing battery voltage and current capability (potentially on a weaker battery), colludes to produce your non-start issue.

Why the remote start works...is particularly interesting. I tried it many times. I chalked it up to not opening up the door, lights/ecu's waking up, which leaves more battery electrons to overcome that contact resistance in the relay.

Just a theory.

 

[art5519]

It would seem that the issue is not with the starter but rather within the key fob?

I got 2 fobs, both with a recently changed battery, same issue.

If the remote start works, sounds like the proximity sensor isn't detecting the key. Try holding the key fob up against the start button to see if it's detected and will start. Outside of that I'd replace the battery in the key fob first and/or try your spare key to see if the fob is bad.

Spent close to an hour trying different things, don't believe it's related to fob. The light turns green on the start button as it should, but pressing the button does't do anything other than lighting all the dashboard lights as normally expected

It would seem that the issue is not with the starter but rather within the key fob?

 

[art5519]

well, we had our first cold day of the season here in Texas (32F) and my truck (lc09 150k) will not start in the morning. I can start it fine with remote start, but can't get it started normally. All the lights look right, press the start button and nothing happens. I had starter replaced couple of years ago. Over time I've had some intermittent issues with starting the truck but always managed to start it after few troubleshooting steps. Thinking that whatever was intermittently working is finally gave up and it may be time for a tow truck.

After sitting for couple of hours truck started normally. I just dropped it off at a local shop for some other unrelated issues. Planning to leave it there overnight and asked them to investigate if they'll run into the starting issue in the morning.

 

[art5519]

When my starter failed, I tried my remote starter with no luck as I recalled you had mentioned this.

I believe the relay wear that's ultimately causing this, over time builds up corrosion/pitting on the contact surfaces such that it creates a high resistance surface that progressively increases in resistance until in no longer works. That mixed with cold weather, which has the effect of reducing battery voltage and current capability (potentially on a weaker battery), colludes to produce your non-start issue.

Why the remote start works...is particularly interesting. I tried it many times. I chalked it up to not opening up the door, lights/ecu's waking up, which leaves more battery electrons to overcome that contact resistance in the relay.

Just a theory.

That's interesting theory. Can you please tell me where is this relay? And if there is a way to test it somehow. Should I just replace it, by chance do you know how much that would be? Thanks for the help!

 

[linuxgod]

Not sure your model year @art5519 but here's the inspection info on the relay for 2013:

 

[linuxgod]

Engine switch inspection info as well:

 

[linuxgod]

If you want to walk through the wiring diagram and see if you can figure out how the remote start differs from the regular start, knock yourself out with the attached.

Personally if it starts with the fob but not the button, I'd get out of the vehicle and see if the remote starter works. If so that definitely points to a problem with something besides the starter...