Thanks for the tip CHenry
Ok new update. Got the truck out and drove around today with a couple of starts and stops. All seemed good until we go to church tonight. I back in a parking spot and when I come out the truck won't start again.
This time when try to hit the starter with a jumper wire I get nothing... The starter doesn't turn over. It doesn't even try to turn over. So I think the starter is now bad.
Could a starter going bad cause the relay to go bad? I don't think it's the transmission neutral sensor since the starter won't turn over with the jumper cable.
Is this thought process correct?
I will say this morning, with new batteries that were charged up, the starter sputtered a little trying to fire up. Like it did before the last time it wouldn't start...
Thoughts?
Update: I got it started by using my wife's car to jump it off. So I could jump it off, that would mean the new batteries didn't have enough juice to do the job. I drove directly to Orielly's Auto parts to get the Battery, Alternator and Starter tested.
The batteries show full charge. Alternator was all over the place with AMP output. At first it less then 30Amps. We did the starter test and once the truck had started, the Alternator was showing 80Amps. A re-test of the alternator shows 71Amps, 68Amps, and after 5 minutes, 44Amps...
So the Amp output of the Alternator dropped as the truck was running. Tests were run within 90 secs of each other except for the last one that was 5 minutes later.
Now any thoughts?
This time when try to hit the starter with a jumper wire I get nothing... The starter doesn't turn over. It doesn't even try to turn over. So I think the starter is now bad.
Could a starter going bad cause the relay to go bad? I don't think it's the transmission neutral sensor since the starter won't turn over with the jumper cable.
Is this thought process correct?
I will say this morning, with new batteries that were charged up, the starter sputtered a little trying to fire up. Like it did before the last time it wouldn't start...
Thoughts?
Update: I got it started by using my wife's car to jump it off. So I could jump it off, that would mean the new batteries didn't have enough juice to do the job. I drove directly to Orielly's Auto parts to get the Battery, Alternator and Starter tested.
The batteries show full charge. Alternator was all over the place with AMP output. At first it less then 30Amps. We did the starter test and once the truck had started, the Alternator was showing 80Amps. A re-test of the alternator shows 71Amps, 68Amps, and after 5 minutes, 44Amps...
So the Amp output of the Alternator dropped as the truck was running. Tests were run within 90 secs of each other except for the last one that was 5 minutes later.
Now any thoughts?
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The output seems low for that series of engine. My V8 dakota is rated at 130 some odd amps, this is at highway speeds but it should be stable even at idle and I would figure at around 50% output.
If the alternator is not charging right it could fluctuate like that if the RPM is stable. Could be the regulator if externally regulated among other things. I am assuming that it was tested on the vehicle. May want to pull it off for another test if so as if it is externally regulated that will take one variable out of the picture. It could also be corrosion on the lines form the alternator to the battery or if externally regulated on the connection to the regulator.
My Dakota alternator was going bad and took the battery with it. I was able to complete a trip to phoenix and back by tapping the alternator like what you would do with a starter when the brushes were giving problems.
If the alternator is not charging right it could fluctuate like that if the RPM is stable. Could be the regulator if externally regulated among other things. I am assuming that it was tested on the vehicle. May want to pull it off for another test if so as if it is externally regulated that will take one variable out of the picture. It could also be corrosion on the lines form the alternator to the battery or if externally regulated on the connection to the regulator.
My Dakota alternator was going bad and took the battery with it. I was able to complete a trip to phoenix and back by tapping the alternator like what you would do with a starter when the brushes were giving problems.
Alternator amperage isn't an indicator of a problem with the alternator. What was the voltage? Erratic amperage is an indicator of something else going on. Could be that the batteries were completely drained then the alternator would have higher amperage then drop as the batteries charge. My concern is that there is something creating a consistent drain on the batteries. So sitting in church the batteries were drained. If you checked the voltage and you saw that jumping all over the place then the diode pack would be bad. One obvious question is your ground good? I've had lots of issues I've chased only to find a bad ground.
Yesterday I replaced both batteries, the ones in the truck had been there since 12/11 so they had been working correctly. I didn't have meter on me to see the battery voltage, but as soon as I pulled out of the Church parking lot, I drove 1/2 mile and had them checked at the parts store. The batteries showed fully charged with the 14V coming from the alternator, but the amps were slowing declining from the high of 80.
I got the truck home and I'm letting it sit. I'll go out and try and start it up in a bit. I'll also pop a meter on it to see what it's reading and if it's jumping around.
What I can't figure out, is why the starter didn't do anything when I tried to jump it off the battery. Volts should have at least caused the starter to try and engage/knock the flywheel..
Very weird!
I got the truck home and I'm letting it sit. I'll go out and try and start it up in a bit. I'll also pop a meter on it to see what it's reading and if it's jumping around.
What I can't figure out, is why the starter didn't do anything when I tried to jump it off the battery. Volts should have at least caused the starter to try and engage/knock the flywheel..
Very weird!
If you had any voltage problems, your battery light would be on. Both of my ford diesels would do the same when alts went out. The first starter lasted about 210,000 miles. Put a NAPA starter on, tried to start it and nothing, double checked everything, nothing. Took it back off, took it back and it would't engage or anytging. Swapped it out for another. That's been 65,000 miles ago.
Since I've been home a couple of hours I thought I'd go out and give it a try. NOTHING... so I put a meter on the batteries and both read 12.84 volts. While I had the hood up I tried to jump the starter again with nothing. I can hit the starter with a dead blow hammer in the morning and see if it starts up. I'll also do my best to jump it and get it started... My next stop will be Diesel Power Plus...
If you can pull the starter out yourself, take it to the local auto parts store and have it tested. If its bad call up Auto Battery & Electric in Tulsa and have it repaired, whatever you do don't buy a rebuilt or remanufactured one from the auto parts store.
Have any of the battery cables ends been replaced? If they have then check for corrosion where they clamp around the cable.
All of the battery cables are factory original and I cleaned the terminals when I replaced the batteries yesterday. I think I can easily pull the starter out. I feel like I'm close but still just chasing the rabbit...
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