Chattering starter solinoid - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

LanceRobson · 01-11-2009, 22:53

My M1008, which has been used several times a week and had been an easy starting truck, has had some starting issues lately. Previous to this it started up with no issues and cold weather wasn't an issue.

About 3 weeks ago, the start relay died and was replaced with a spare OEM relay. Last Tuesday, when it was only 8 degrees, it acted like the batteries were weak and went from slow cranking to no cranking and a chattering solenoid to nothing in a few seconds.

Slaving it didn't help. It didn't get any better than the starter solenoid clicking, if that, and the generator and wait lights were dim, even while the slave cables were hooked up. The glow plugs were drawing enough power to make a deuce's alternator belts squeal, which hasn't happened before or since.

After checking the battery terminals and charging the batteries, it wouldn't crank. The starter engaged for a bit (a second or less) and it went back to chattering.

A cell by cell test showed one weak cell in each battery (a matched set of 10 year old DEKA 6TLs) so I got a fresh set ready and cleaned all the connections at the buss bars, the battery terminals, the starter, the engine ground etc.

Still, all I'm getting is the solenoid chatter. Tomorrow, I'll swap in a different starter.

Other than that, has anyone got a suggestion?

Thanks

Lance

underdog · 01-12-2009, 08:21

Found this to be an interesting read.
http://www.thedieselpageforums.com/t...hlight=starter

LanceRobson · 01-12-2009, 08:44

Thanks. The link won't open.

Lance

outsider · 01-12-2009, 11:34

Sounds like you have a bad connection OR a bad piece of wire somewhere, because you are not getting enough amperage to the starter to turn the engine over with oil that is the viscosity of syrup or even possibly tar st 8 deg.
Steve

mangus580 · 01-12-2009, 11:41

Lance, I would look at all the 12v connections.... Fusible Links, etc.

Its sounds like you arent getting the full 12v from the front battery.

BTW... My 1009 has started a similar thing to this... The front battery is weak. Saturday and Today both, it required a jump on that battery. I load tested it a little over a week ago, and found that its 'bad'... and then needed a jump!

I have a solargizer on it now, hoping that it will recover. The batteries arent that old.

LanceRobson · 01-12-2009, 12:49

Mike. I haven't dug into the wiring diagrams. There's a link or some such between the two bus bars. It seems to be in rough shape. any idea what it is?

There are some wires with what appear to be links attached to the positive bus and running down from there. I haven't looked in another CUCV to see if they are original. Is that what Id be looking for?

I thought I was going to work on this right now but I've got to go on a service call. I'll be back in 2-3 hours.

Lance

NDT · 01-12-2009, 12:51

Check the starter relay again, the one under the dash. I had the exact same problem, same symtoms. The contacts on the relay had burned. Filing the contacts fixed the problem, for now. The relay is the shiny oblong one above the gas pedal, but attached to the dash.

LanceRobson · 01-12-2009, 12:57

I tried a new AC140 relay with no change. I'll try it again when I get back. It's a lot less work and a bunch cheaper than changing the starter.

Lance

mangus580 · 01-12-2009, 13:36

Lance... what is chattering? The relay under the dash? Or the solenoid on the starter?

LanceRobson · 01-12-2009, 15:45

The starter soleniod. It is enough to feel it in the whole truck. It might be masking something at the start relay but I can't tell.

Lance