Replaced Starter Contacts. Still Intermittant Starting!!! Sleuth needed. (1 Viewer)

[roncruiser]

do you here a click when the no start happens?

I wondered about the click. I do hear a click coming from the starter as I turn the key. Is it supposed to be a double click or a single click. I guess it does not matter. Nonetheless I do hear the click. The intermittant-ness is getting worse. I wish I did not have any obligations today, I'd be all over this.

Landtank, what are you thinking?

 

[landtank]

If you can hear a click then the solenoid is firing. So no need to look upstream from there.

I had this same problem and went with a reman starter from CDan. Twice after I pulled the starter it had intermittent issues afterwards.

I replaced the solenoid assembly and immediately after installing the starter it clicked with no start. That's why I have it available.

If the motor itself is serviceable it's probably not cost effective.

I'd Call Dan and be done with it.

 

[maverick_sr71]

You get the "click" from the starter soliniod and you can hear the hum of the elctricity to the starter motor.

Here's the before and after spot light relay mod pics. Hope it helps Roncruiser.

 

[roncruiser]

If you can hear a click then the solenoid is firing. So no need to look upstream from there.

I had this same problem and went with a reman starter from CDan. Twice after I pulled the starter it had intermittent issues afterwards.

I replaced the solenoid assembly and immediately after installing the starter it clicked with no start. That's why I have it available.

If the motor itself is serviceable it's probably not cost effective.

I'd Call Dan and be done with it.

Rick, sorry for not understanding right away, but you are saying after installing the reman. starter you had to pull out again twice?

Then after replacing the solenoid it still did not start? In the end what was the problem with your starter? Was it the solenoid or the motor?

I'm not sure what you are suggesting I replace. The whole starter or just the solenoid.

Sorry. One more time please.... must be too early in the morning.

 

[landtank]

I wrote that in reverse, sorry about that.

The problems were before the replacement. Once the reman was installed the truck has been flawless.

 

[roncruiser]

I wrote that in reverse, sorry about that.

The problems were before the replacement. Once the reman was installed the truck has been flawless.

What would your guess be on the problem with your starter? I went through your posts on this thread and did not find a clear indication as to what may have been the problem. I'm just trying to understand before dropping cash on another starter.

 

[landtank]

I replaced the solenoid assembly so the only thing left was the motor itself.

If I were to guess I'd say that the brushes in the motor where either worn out or more likely binding in their channel and not making a good contact with the armature.

At some point it's more than contracts and a plunger, and for me at 200k I figured I got the use out of it so buying a reman was an easy choice.

I still have that new solenoid assembly if you want a cheap one to try.

 

[roncruiser]

This weekend, I'll replace the starter with a used starter I bought from Cruiserparts.net. I'll transfer the new contacts from the current starter to the used starter. If the intermittant start goes away for an extended time, I'll blame my woes on the current starter motor and order a reman. starter.

 

[loquito]

I don't claim to have the same issues as you. But I get the same symptoms. After several start/stops/driving around I would get back in the truck and nothing when I turned the key. It happens when the truck is heated up.
A mechanic came over to the truck one time while it was acting up, He tapped the starter with a hammer and she started up right away.
Now we carry a stick, If the truck acts up we just pop the hood and tap the top of the starter and she will crank over again.
It will work till I can order from New Mexico.
Steven

 

[Beowulf]

... tap the top of the starter and she will crank over again. It will work till I can order from New Mexico.

Classic symptoms of stuck contacts. Ignoring this or delaying the repair is potentially very expensive. Others have spent over $1,000 replacing alternators, wiring, batteries, and/or starters after they burned up.

-B-

 

[landtank]

Classic symptoms of stuck contacts. Ignoring this or delaying the repair is potentially very expensive. Others have spent over $1,000 replacing alternators, wiring, batteries, and/or starters after they burned up.

-B-

They don't sound stuck on like usual. It won't start until after he flogs it.

 

[roncruiser]

Same ol' same ol' and bummer out

NoGo! I replaced the starter with a used one I bought from Cruiserparts. I removed the old starter and replaced it with the cruiserparts starter. I switched the newly installed contacts and plunger into the cruiserparts starter.

I started her up and all was well. As before, most times the starter cranks right up. After the switch, I was a little skeptical, but hoped I did the right thing.
Well... its a NoGo! After a few starts the first "non-start" happened a few hours after I switched the starter. Same symptoms as before. Big time bummer. Its not the starter solenoid.

I'll be making an order for a new ignition switch soon. What do you think?
What say you?

 

[landtank]

it would seem that is it, let us know. I hate intermittent problems.

 

[roncruiser]

Any ballpark figure as to how much new ignitions switches cost?

 

[roncruiser]

It just remembered that I still hear the solenoid click when I turn the key during non-starts. If the ignition switch was bad, I should not be hearing this click, correct?

 

[concretejungle]

roncruiser, as of this morning i am in the same ballpark as you. Starter just finally went out. It had been "telling" me something was wrong for a while, but i didn't listen.

I have the same ol' turn the key, here the one click to the starter, then a pause and then it would start. Today, turn the key, here the one click to the starter and then pause....pause...pause....nothing. I tapped the starter and still nothing.

I will replace the contacts/plunger first. If that doesn't work, i will replace the solenoid. If that doesn't work, i really think that Maverick knows what he is talking about. I will pursue his suggestion.

 

[roncruiser]

Where would one get a spot light relay? Is that a brand name, or an actual relay for a spot light? How big a relay should I buy? Hmmmm...

Anyhow, I ordered an ignition switch from Dan, but its a special order and takes a little longer to get in. In the mean time, I'm going to try wiring the relay in to take the load off of the ignition switch.

 

[concretejungle]

ron, i'm not sure where to get one. I was going to print this thread out, IF, replacing my contacts and plunger didn't work and take it to someone that could translate to me what he was talking about.

 

[roncruiser]

Marverick's idea works well. Here's an article describing something similar:
http://www.vectorbd.com/peugeot/archive/2000/Jan/0022.html
I think I'll head over to the local automotive shop and pick up a Single Pole Single Throw relay. I'd hate to cut into the wire that goes to the starter solenoid to install the relay though.

 

[SUMOTOY]

I'll be making an order for a new ignition switch soon. What do you think?
What say you?

Ignition switch would be my guess all along. I diagnosed one of these in a 93 with the same symptoms quite easily using a remote starter switch I've had around for years. It's a switch with 3feet of leads and 2 aligator clips I bought for doing points n' such on the older vw/audis. I'd bet that switch you can still buy from an autoparts store. I made a plug adapter for the leads and just plugged it into the starter.

The idea of unloading the starter part of the switch load is good. A ford remote solenoid will work, as will a variety of other applications that are meant for under hood install of starters. Or, you can do the really cool thing the young audi boys like in my shop which is to just unload the starting switch from the key and putting a push button starter switch on the dash (Summit Racing ~20bucks).

HTH

ST