M1009 won't start, Marietta.(tuesday morning)

[CycleJay]

Hi guys,

My M1009 will not start.
I turn the key, I see all the dash lights come on, the voltmeter needle is
on the white line between yellow and red, I get the click of the doghead relay.
Then nothing...

It started and ran great yesterday, (Sunday).

I tried jump starting it, nothing..
I tried lightly tapping the starter with a hammer, nothing..

It started to rain harder, so I came in before I eletrocuted myself. LOL.

I know that sometimes after a rain it is difficult to start, but it always did.
Not this time. But when it is dry and not raining it starts easy and perfect.

Any ideas? What should I do? what should I check?
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
As this is my daily driver, and I need to use it to get to work.
(but I called work and he will pick me up today...)

Thank you all in advance... Good day... 06:42 am Tuesday 09/18/2012

 

[Cucvnut]

Cj you have been here long enough to know you should start with the TM's and go from there or search for threads on no starting....

 

[gungearz]

What about triple A...? Seriously, use the search button. No start m1009 will work for you as it has for many...

 

[rickf]

The indication you are giving from the voltmeter would say a bad battery. What did you jump it with? Is this still 24 volt?

 

[JGBallew]

Hi guys,

My M1009 will not start.
I turn the key, I see all the dash lights come on, the voltmeter needle is
on the white line between yellow and red, I get the click of the doghead relay.
Then nothing...

It started and ran great yesterday, (Sunday).

I tried jump starting it, nothing..
I tried lightly tapping the starter with a hammer, nothing..

It started to rain harder, so I came in before I eletrocuted myself. LOL.

I know that sometimes after a rain it is difficult to start, but it always did.
Not this time. But when it is dry and not raining it starts easy and perfect.

Any ideas? What should I do? what should I check?
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
As this is my daily driver, and I need to use it to get to work.
(but I called work and he will pick me up today...)

Thank you all in advance... Good day... 06:42 am Tuesday 09/18/2012

1- Charge the batteries fully.

2- Find the starter relay. It's on the dash, just above the shifter on a bracket. Then with your hand on the relay, try to start. If it's hot, or doesn't click, it's bad, and possibly so is your starter .(the "click" the relay makes is VERY quiet, you need to feel it)

3- If it DOES click, check the wiring to the starter for voltage. If you're getting that from the relay, pull the starter.

4- While waiting for the starter, do the dogshead relay conversion, and get rid of the rinky-dink OE relay.

 

[gungearz]

Does it have a neutral safety switch...? If you don't hear a solenoid click... Maybe...

 

[cshaw07]

make sure all the wires stayed on the doghead relay. PO on my 09' didnt do too well installing it and that happened to me. ****, you shoulda seen the radio and cig lighter wiring....

 

[CycleJay]

Hi guys,

Thank you for all the replies.

My apologies for posting the question and not searching the tm's or searching the forums.
But when you are in a time crunch, like I was this morning.
Some times it is just faster to ask a direct question from knowledgeable people.

Everyone please read my post again.

Because, I mentioned that I do hear a click from the doghead relay.
(I DID the doghead mod a long time ago. And got rid of the OEM relay.)
It is unlikely a bad battery (I could be wrong), because I just replaced both batteries about
2-3 months ago if not sooner, and they have been continusly fed by a working 24v solargizer.

This M1009 is 100% stock, except for the Doghead starter relay mod.
I did feel the Doghead relay when I turned the key, it does not get hot,
and it does click, loud enough for me to hear it... (It is reassuring to hear it...)

The rest of the charging system except for the actual wiring is new.
The Doghead relay, the other 2 small square under dash relays, both alternators,
and so is the starter (just a few months old...), as well as both batteries.

By the way, when I turn the key before cranking, the voltmeter needle is almost
always somewhere in the yellow, until it starts and cycles, then the needle
goes to the white line between the yellow and green and stays there,
until I shut off the engine.

And the wiring of this M1009 was NOT hacked up by the previous owner,
it was all intact, because I compared it to the TM wiring diagrams,
and the photos you guys have posted of correct wiring in an M1009.

When I jumped it, I used a 1999 Dodge Stratus (this morning),
and one of the GMC or chevy vans from work (This afternoon...)

I do have triple A, so I will have them come out and see if they can help me out too.

Thanks for all your ideas guys, God bless you.

Good day....

 

[cpf240]

When the jump starts were attempted, how were they connected?

Just my two cents... sounds like the rear battery is either dead / shorted or very discharged. The front battery will run the dash lights and energize the DH starter relay just like normal. If the rear battery is bad, then there will be no engagement of the starter solenoid or turning of the starter.

New batteries can go bad...

I'd suggest getting a volt meter and measuring the voltage, as well as load testing the batteries.

 

[rickf]

OK, I read your post again as you asked, and I quote " the meter is on the white line between the yellow and the red". That sir is not enough to turn the starter. It will be enough to close the relay. Then you say you jumped it with a Dodge Stratus which is 12 volt. You need 24 volts to start. You say it has been hard to start on rainy days, well that should have been a clue to look for bad connections. I would check all of the battery terminal connections and then the ground connections on the engine and body. Take a volt meter and verify the batteries are at 12+ volts. Have someone hold the key in the start position while you go out and tap on the battery terminals. Make sure first off that it is not your neutral switch, While holding it in start move the shifter through the entire range from park to low.

Rick

 

[ARYankee]

You have a bad battery is what I would suspect or a bad battery connection. My voltmeter starts off in the yellow before I start it but when it is idling it is in the green. If yours is in between the yellow and green then it may not be charging your batteries correctly. I would suggest checking your alternator connections, especially your exciter wires. There is a really great thread on troubleshooting this: http://www.steelsoldiers.com/cucv/54292-cucv-alternator-symptoms-diagnosis-fix.html

 

[CycleJay]

Hello guys,

Thanks again for all the information, it is all duly noted, considered, and understand.
And I will do what is needed to get it running again.

Good day...

 

[stationjj]

I had a similar issue with my Voltmeter reading between yellow and green after starting.

I replaced the alternator regulator plugs, and I get a good solid green voltmeter reading. I know this want solve your starting issues.

Thought I would add my TWO cents worth. http://test.steelsoldiers.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_2cents.gif

stationjj

 

[cpf240]

Any updates, CJ?

 

[CycleJay]

Hello cpf,

Yes, loose connection in the wiring behind the dash. Minor fix. No big deal.
But I am having a local reputable shop put in glow plugs. Before the winter comes.

So all is well...

Thank you for asking...

 

[cpf240]

Glad to hear you got it running.

On the glow plugs, as long as they aren't swollen, they are an easy DIY job. I went with the Bosch glow plugs from CUCV Electric. They took a little longer due to having to change the connectors. Removing the rear battery made it much easier to get to the right rear glow plugs.

 

[MakersTeleMark]

Hello cpf,

Yes, loose connection in the wiring behind the dash. Minor fix. No big deal.
But I am having a local reputable shop put in glow plugs. Before the winter comes.

So all is well...

Thank you for asking...

Which connection?

 

[CycleJay]

CPF,

Thank you for the advice... I am pleased too...
I have my reasons for getting it done this way.

But at least it's condition will be much improved when I get it back.
The shop I took it to, uses the Bosch glow plugs on diesel engines anyway.

MakersTeleMark,
one of the connecting wires to the Doghead relay somehow snapped,
and I looked there when I tried to figure it out myself, but I must have
overlooked something somehow. Probably because I have not been
thinking clearly because I have not been well lately.