Strange starter behavour

[Plasa]

Hello forum.
I have a quite strange behavour that I don't know if its serious or not. It happen very randomly (in 2 years 5 times), so I don't think it's critical.
Batteries are full...
Happen that when I press the start button (of course the mains switch is on) the starter crank, but only for an instant, and then stop again. Sounds like a "tack" and I feel that the engine crank for less than a second. Sounds normal but stops after a moment.
Release the start button, hit it again and the engine start as nothing happen... Don't know if there is a ""death point" where the starter is not strong enough to crank the engine or something else...

Any idea?

Thanks and all the best!

Christian

 

[Ronmar]

Hello forum.
I have a quite strange behavour that I don't know if its serious or not. It happen very randomly (in 2 years 5 times), so I don't think it's critical.
Batteries are full...
Happen that when I press the start button (of course the mains switch is on) the starter crank, but only for an instant, and then stop again. Sounds like a "tack" and I feel that the engine crank for less than a second. Sounds normal but stops after a moment.
Release the start button, hit it again and the engine start as nothing happen... Don't know if there is a ""death point" where the starter is not strong enough to crank the engine or something else...

Any idea?

Thanks and all the best!

Christian

you could have a weak relay or a high resistance connection associated with K1 or K24. Also insure that K1 and K24 are both 12v coil relays. A 24v coils drop-out voltage may be very near the normal voltage sag of the batteries/electrical system when cranking the engine And would interrupt the start. Then there is the aux relay down on the frame. Unfortunately this is really difficult to troubleshoot untill it starts happening in a predictable fashion

 

[coachgeo]

bad spot in the start button.... when your finger is on button just right it looses contact?

 

[frank8003]

You will find it one day when the button/relays/circuits will not function at all or fails in some really bad fashion. You are correct in being concerned. Electrical faults do not heal. Is the start button itself easy to get out and inspect/replace?

LMTV starting issues

Still having trouble starting my LMTV. Has to be a wiring issue. Have installed a new fuse panel, new ignition rocker switch (which now gets power). Battery's are all new. Push red ignition switch and nothing. I saw a video on how to start an LMTV and it showed the owner pressing the...

www.steelsoldiers.com

 

[coachgeo]

You will find it one day when the button/relays/circuits will not function at all or fails in some really bad fashion. You are correct in being concerned. Electrical faults do not heal. Is the start button itself easy to get out and inspect/replace?

LMTV starting issues

Still having trouble starting my LMTV. Has to be a wiring issue. Have installed a new fuse panel, new ignition rocker switch (which now gets power). Battery's are all new. Push red ignition switch and nothing. I saw a video on how to start an LMTV and it showed the owner pressing the...

www.steelsoldiers.com

other side of the coin is unfortunately it takes either
. near or full failure to find what is actually wrong and fix the one thing actually wrong
. chase the issue for millennia, repair and replace everything that is working just fine till you are so frustrated your last repair includes a shot gun and tanearite.

 

[frank8003]

Don't shoot her
Good advise was take it to the dealer, they plug it in and figure it out.
That that truck is so far from a Deuce I can't figure it out, I trying and will get it done but not today.

 

[Plasa]

Yes, maybe. At second try starts without problems.
Maybe keep it in mind and see if happens more frequently in next time..

Thanks you help!

Christian

bad spot in the start button.... when your finger is on button just right it looses contact?

 

[Nomadic]

Keep a spare starter on hand. 5 occurrences in 2 years will grow into 10 occurrences in one year.

 

[Floridianson]

Well keep us informed. Yep my 3116 did the same thing for the first time the other day after years of no problem. I was figuring that it was the way I pushed the push button. Most of the time I am standing on the step and reaching over the steering wheel to light her up. Have started it a couple of times since then with no problems but I also sit in the seat and press the button straight and with intent.

 

[Andyrv6av8r]

A friend of mine had almost the exact same scenerio with his 1078. I recommended that he load test each battery after he said voltages all tested fine. End result was 2 of the 4 batteries failed under load. Swapped to the 2 battery setup with the good ones and all is well.

 

[Floridianson]

Load tested all four of mine and all looking good. Guess I will wait till the problem shows it's ugly face again then start to worry.

 

[Plasa]

I have only 2 batts left, but connected to a balancer, to keep both at the same level. Maybe its really only the start button. I will keep an eye on it.

Christian

Load tested all four of mine and all looking good. Guess I will wait till the problem shows it's ugly face again then start to worry.

 

[coachgeo]

I have only 2 batts left, but connected to a balancer, to keep both at the same level. Maybe its really only the start button. I will keep an eye on it.

Christian

well after sitting four days after typical daily use.. now mine has done this but never turns starter long enough to "start" (acts like bad battery) Engine tries to move then starter stops. Like yours Plasa; on rare occasion this use to happen then would start. Happen more often if a batt was low.

Right now batts are fully charged. Truck is only thing I have that (was) driving so I cant go get batteries load tested. Fellow is coming this evening though with a tester.

Did you figure yours out?

 

[Ronmar]

well after sitting four days after typical daily use.. now mine has done this but never turns starter long enough to "start" (acts like bad battery) Engine tries to move then starter stops. Like yours Plasa; on rare occasion this use to happen then would start. Happen more often if a batt was low.

Right now batts are fully charged. Truck is only thing I have that (was) driving so I cant go get batteries load tested. Fellow is coming this evening though with a tester.

Did you figure yours out?

throw a voltmeter on the GND and 24V test points in the cab and watch it when you push the button.

You can do the same thing at the starter solenoid(+) and starter motor(-) connections and observe it when you push the start button.

What does the trans display do when you push the button?

 

[coachgeo]

throw a voltmeter on the GND and 24V test points in the cab and watch it when you push the button.

You can do the same thing at the starter solenoid(+) and starter motor(-) connections and observe it when you push the start button.

What does the trans display do when you push the button?

cab is now up so at starter solenoid easier. Solenoid (+) would be big heavy lug correct? and ground on starter.. would be one with strap going to chassis? Going at this by myself so will have to do some acrobatics to do as requested. Luckly been doing acrobatics majority of my life... hmm... damn thought I just retired from that.

I'll look at trans display next time I try it

 

[GeneralDisorder]

Do you have a battery load tester? I've got several battery chargers - both dumb and smart - and they often will indicate charging complete or the amperage drops off like they are done taking current but this doesn't tell you what condition they are in as far as cranking amps, resistance, and voltage. It could simply be that you have a battery that is weak or has lost a cell, etc and can't produce the voltage at the current required.

 

[Suprman]

Bang bang bang of the starter? Add a big ground cable from the batts negative to a sanded spot on the main frame rail.

 

[Ronmar]

Yes you would connect to the large + and - leads at the solenoid and the front of the starter motor where the main ground strap is located.

What general said IRT the load test. pushing the start button is a load test, just not a full capacity one, but it satisfies the basic requirement, "voltage is not good unless it is good while supplying a load"

If the voltage falls on its face when you push the start button(load test), you need to step back thru the circuit and see where it is dropping and either fix the bad connection or the bad battery. If it doesn't drop, it isn't being loaded which indicates a starter/solenoid not completing a circuit.

You can also help isolate a bad connection with the meter wired in parallel with the current path. Say one lead on the battery + and the other lead on the starter solenoid + and measure the voltage developed across the circuit resistance when you pull current, attempt to start... You can do the same thing on the ground path, battery - to starter motor ground point...

 

[coachgeo]

Do you have a battery load tester? I've got several battery chargers - both dumb and smart - and they often will indicate charging complete or the amperage drops off like they are done taking current but this doesn't tell you what condition they are in as far as cranking amps, resistance, and voltage. It could simply be that you have a battery that is weak or has lost a cell, etc and can't produce the voltage at the current required.

load tester will arrive this afternoon around 6 or 7pm. I HAVE to use the truck Sat. morning is the issue.

 

[GeneralDisorder]

What general said IRT the load test. pushing the start button is a load test, just not a full capacity one, but it satisfies the basic requirement, "voltage is not good unless it is good while supplying a load"

Absolutely. I just like to check batteries out of circuit on multi-battery setups. Especially the 4 batt setup - I test them individually and rotate them periodically. If a load tester isn't available then a voltage drop test is the next best option and the first step if the batteries are not the issue.