Hey guys
Im landscaping with a buddy this summer an his truck has started acting up. So far its happened 3 times each a bit different
1st: turn ignition an absolutely nothing happens. I had him put truck in drive n i pushed the truck a half foot to try an turn engine over a bit. Sure enough it started.
2nd: when he turned ignition the starter would make a loud squeal like it couldn't engage or something. But we did the same push in gear an it started.
3rd: no sqeal or anything on start up. Pushing truck in gear didnt work either. So we had to use some pliers an just connect the posts on the starter solenoid. Started right up.

The kicker is the starter is less then 6months old.
So any ideas what could be wrong?

 

Jacked up teeth on the flex plate/flywheel like mine... if if hit that same spot my starter doesn't engage making a loud metal to metal and grinding type noise.. bad thing is you have to pull the trans, if it does it again try rotating the engine by hand a quarter turn or so and re try it again.. I bet its the flexplate

 

I am starting to think this is a feature of the older diesels, even with a brandy new starter and a better than average flywheel, it still rings the bell every once in a while.

 

If the truck is an automatic putting it in drive and pushing it will not turn the engine. Is the starter under warranty?

 

1st: turn ignition an absolutely nothing happens. I had him put truck in drive n i pushed the truck a half foot to try an turn engine over a bit. Sure enough it started.
^
suspect the starter mounted solenoid.

2nd: when he turned ignition the starter would make a loud squeal like it couldn't engage or something. But we did the same push in gear an it started.

^
suspect the bendix not fully engaging the flywheel (or less often,missing teeth on the flywheel.)

3rd: no sqeal or anything on start up. Pushing truck in gear didnt work either. So we had to use some pliers an just connect the posts on the starter solenoid. Started right up.

^
suspect the ignition switch and or fender mounted solenoid.
small terminal not getting power when key turned on = bad switch.
small terminal getting power but not making the internal connection between the two large posts = bad fender mounted solenoid.
all checked ok = bad starter mounted solenoid and or starter failing.


you might just change the starter and all issues resolved.......that will probably be the case but with these old rigs,who knows lol.everything's a bit umm......... "mature".

 

Did you use the pliers to jump the SOLENOID (which is on the starter) or the RELAY (which is on the fender)? If you jumped the relay, which terminals did you jump?

If, by "put it in drive", we can infer that it's an automatic, as said, pushing the truck did nothing. It was pure coincidence that it started on the next try. Next time it acts up, try turning the engine with the crank pulley bolt. If that helps, then it _might_ be the flexplate ring gear.

This could just be a weak connection at the starter, or the battery terminals, or main battery grounds. Have you checked all of these?

And NO, this is NOT a "feature of the older diesels". We have two PSDs and an IDI, and none of them have ever done it.