Starting issues..
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 241
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From: North Dakota
Starting issues..
I know that electrical gremlins are an issue with our vehicles but I'm really getting tired of the starting issue with my excursion. I have an '01 7.3 4wd with 365k on the odo.
My issue began with hard cold weather starts mostly due to a work out block heater. This eventually progressed to the starter burning out. Now it won't turn over, and doesn't even click. I was able to jump the starter relay and assumed it was the issue so I replaced it. Still no start by turning the key but was able to get it going by jumping the relay. Now even that don't work....any ideas before i take a shotgun to my truck(only partially kidding)?
My issue began with hard cold weather starts mostly due to a work out block heater. This eventually progressed to the starter burning out. Now it won't turn over, and doesn't even click. I was able to jump the starter relay and assumed it was the issue so I replaced it. Still no start by turning the key but was able to get it going by jumping the relay. Now even that don't work....any ideas before i take a shotgun to my truck(only partially kidding)?
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 241
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From: North Dakota
I have one somewhere but right now all I can find is the cheap lightbulb tester ...i did hook the truck up to some jumper cables for awhile yesterday and didn't notice anything
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
Dig out the Volt meter and get a baseline. Really no sense fooling with anything else until you know your batteries state of charge.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,394
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From: Loveland,CO
Be sure to check the voltages individually on the batteries. You can also watch the voltage drop by cycling the GP's individually on each battery. They should have a similar voltage drop when a load is added.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: North Dakota
Well just a quick update: I can't find my multimeter but while using the cheap lightbulb tester I accidentally jumped the relay and was again able to start it. Apparently the short is somewhere before that. Is there any common places to look at?
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Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
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From: Western AR
Check your neutral safety switch on the side of the transmission. It may be worn out or need to be adjusted. It allows 12 volts to go to the little wire (90 degree rubber boot) on your starter solenoid on the fender and activate it, thus sending 12 volts and lot of amps down to the starter. If you don't get that 12 volts "go" signal to the little wire, you won't get any juice to the starter. Wiggle the shift cable that is attached to the neutral safety switch and see if it starts by turning the key while wiggling. You will need a second person. Set the brake and chock the wheels, and make sure the person starting the truck won't benefit from you being dead.
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Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
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From: Western AR
If you had a short, you would know it...and fast. Smoke would be rising and fuses would be blowing. You have an open condition in the circuit. Quite possibly at the neutral safety switch or the ignition switch under the column.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: North Dakota
Update part deux:
It's the relay or solenoid on the passenger fender that i was jumping to get the truck to start.
After reading up on the neutral safety, I tried to start it in neutral and it started right up. Has to be the safety switch right?
It's the relay or solenoid on the passenger fender that i was jumping to get the truck to start.
After reading up on the neutral safety, I tried to start it in neutral and it started right up. Has to be the safety switch right?
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