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Car Forum / Dodge / Dodge Trucks / November 2006'01 Ram 2500 CTD Starter Problem
I was having problems with my starter (click but no start) occasionally and read on a website that the contact problem can also cause the starter to be stuck running and something about keeping the fuel pump running. I had the problem a couple times of the starter staying on, but after putting the ignition key back to ON and running the engine again, it would let go after a couple more tries. I was about to install a contact kit, but this morning the starter got stuck bigtime and wouldn't let go. I didn't have any tools so I made a run for home (about 10 minutes) with the starter running. Just after I get there I hear the starter let go and the truck will then shut off. Outside the truck there's the electrical smell and I'm thinking the starter is fried. I was correct and the starter even catches on fire. Ran for a fire extinguisher, but the fire went out on it's own. Having an electrical contact failure potentially cause a fire that could destroy your vehicle, garage, house, etc makes me think that the design of the system is freaking insane. Needing a toolbox with you to shut off the engine? WTF? I would have thought something like this would be on a safety recall or something. I would like to at least vent about their engineering. Anyway, does anyone know of a contact number at Chrysler for complaints?. Thanks, Bill (going back to my garage to make sure it's not on fire) > Needing a toolbox with you to shut off the engine? WTF? > I would have thought something like this would be on a safety recall > or something. Did you try pulling any relays in the PDC? Would that work?  SignatureKen Unfortunately, I wouldn't know what relay to pull or where it is. What's the PDC? Bill >> Needing a toolbox with you to shut off the engine? WTF? >> I would have thought something like this would be on a safety recall >> or something. > > Did you try pulling any relays in the PDC? Would that work? >>> Needing a toolbox with you to shut off the engine? WTF? >>> I would have thought something like this would be on a safety recall [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Unfortunately, I wouldn't know what relay to pull or where it is. What's > the PDC? Power Distribution Center. It's the large fuze and relay panel located under the hood just aft of the driver's side battery. SignatureKen > Did you try pulling any relays in the PDC? Would that work? Unfortunately, no. The starter relay only engages the solenoid, which makes the contacts which bring the big amps to the starter. Once the contacts more or less weld themselves together, or the solenoid sticks, the only thing you can do is either whack the starter with a big hammer (if the solenoid is just stuck, this will work - if the contacts are fused, this won't to much of anything), or disconnect the negative battery cables. >> Did you try pulling any relays in the PDC? Would that work? > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > work - if the contacts are fused, this won't to much of anything), or > disconnect the negative battery cables. Would pulling the fuel system relay at least shut the truck off? Or would it be best to let it run while pulling the battery cables? SignatureKen > Would pulling the fuel system relay at least shut the truck off? Or would > it be best to let it run while pulling the battery cables? Turning the key off would shut off the engine. It's not a run-away engine, but a run-away starter. I'd say it's better to leave the engine running while dealing with the batteries, because at least that way, there's less strain on the starter, meaning less amp draw (as compared to asking it to crank over the engine all on it's own). Of course, that presents it's own set of problems, because we know that it's a bad idea to remove the batteries from an engine's electrical system while it's operating, because the batteries tend to smooth out any voltage spikes generated from the alternator, which could otherwise damage electrical components. It's a bad scene no matter how you look at it.... best to replace the contacts before they get this bad :) I didn't have too much warning on this, only a few occurrences of problems that were scattered pretty much timewise. It was odd that with the ignition off, the starter seemed to be turning the engine over much faster than normal. Any theory on that? Bill >> Would pulling the fuel system relay at least shut the truck off? Or would >> it be best to let it run while pulling the battery cables? [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > It's a bad scene no matter how you look at it.... best to replace the > contacts before they get this bad :) less to squeeze no fuel no fire, compression fired engine shuts down by shutting fuel off. Signature---------------------------- -Chris 05 CTD 06 Liberty CRD Real Trucks don't NEED spark plugs. >I didn't have too much warning on this, only a few occurrences of problems >that were scattered [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >> It's a bad scene no matter how you look at it.... best to replace the >> contacts before they get this bad :) That makes sense, without fuel I suppose the starter isn't seeing the extra torque of the fuel's vapor pressure and the beginnings of combustion in the cylinders. bill > less to squeeze no fuel no fire, compression fired engine shuts down by > shutting fuel off. > > -- What's the diff, negative or positive? Why do you have to disconnect one instead of the other? SignatureChristopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. . > Did you try pulling any relays in the PDC? Would that work? Unfortunately, no. The starter relay only engages the solenoid, which makes the contacts which bring the big amps to the starter. Once the contacts more or less weld themselves together, or the solenoid sticks, the only thing you can do is either whack the starter with a big hammer (if the solenoid is just stuck, this will work - if the contacts are fused, this won't to much of anything), or disconnect the negative battery cables. > What's the diff, negative or positive? Why do you have to disconnect > one instead of the other? Safety reasons, Chris. If you drop the neg connector onto metal, it is neg to neg, not a big deal. If you drop the pos onto that metal, it is pos to neg. Might not be a big a deal when you have one battery, but when you have two as in the CTD, it puts on an impressive show. FMB (North Mexico) Thanks. Didn't think of that. I'm used to single battery vehicles. Excellent education moment. SignatureChristopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. . > What's the diff, negative or positive? Why do you have to disconnect > one instead of the other? Safety reasons, Chris. If you drop the neg connector onto metal, it is neg to neg, not a big deal. If you drop the pos onto that metal, it is pos to neg. Might not be a big a deal when you have one battery, but when you have two as in the CTD, it puts on an impressive show. FMB (North Mexico) |
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