Hey guys,

During the last two trips to Utah my RRC wouldn't start on occasion. I thought it was the battery being dead, but this last time I had to jump the starter solenoid to get it going.

Are the solenoids susceptable to cold? I didn't know that it really mattered. The truck has 145K on it, on the original starter. Hasn't been submerged or packed with mud ever that I know of.

Can I replace just the solenoid or do I need to replace the whole starter? The starter spins over just fine, it's just that these last two times in the cold (down to -10 f.) have it acting up.

Ideas?

One time I had a solenoid problem that was caused by burnt/corroded electrical contacts inside the solenoid. When the solenoid pulls in the contacts close to supply power to the starter motor.

Pulled the solenoid apart, filed the copper contacts to restore the surfaces and all was well.

Originally posted by Serious One
Hey guys,



Can I replace just the solenoid or do I need to replace the whole starter? The starter spins over just fine, it's just that these last two times in the cold (down to -10 f.) have it acting up.

Ideas?

Generally solenoids fail from heat, not cold...

j

You ought to be able to take the starter to local electrical shop and they would be able to rebuild it for not much $.

I think I also saw in Jegs you can by a starter wrap....a foil insulating layer to help protect it.

Yeah, I was under the impression that most electrical problems occured from heat rather than colld. It's just interesting that it's happening when it gets really cold.

The factory heat shielding is in place still. I might get ambitious and go down there and re-do the starter power leads and see if there's any corrosion or broken wires.

It's just weird that it happens when it's cold.

Sounds like a resistance problem to me... Lower amps when cold, plus bad or nasty connection that shrinks when cold could equal no start?

Try tapping on it, Then try and start it. If it is the solenoid sticking, it's on the inside. If that doesn't work, probably wiring.

j

yes you can just buy the selonoids you can get them from atlantic british for sure for about 60 bucks. You can also pick up a used starter for about the same price from carparts.com I now have both a used starter (on the truck) and a rebuilt with parts from atlantic british (orginal from the truck) But mine definately failed due to heat no heat shielding what so ever and running headman headers. So either way will work if you are having to jump the solenoid it is the solenoid most likely. I jumped mine for about 3 months and it works fine as long as you have two people all the time. It's a little harder when you are in a walmart parking lot trying to recruit someone to turn the key while you are under the truck sparking and yelling but hey I got it started. You'll also start leaving the truck on more often if you don't change it out. Got some funny looks when I'd just leave the truck running when I went into stores but since I still don't have a shifter for my tranny it's difficult to figure out how to get it into gear so I wasn't too worried about it being stolen. One last thing all the places that I called to get the starter rebuilt cost over 200 dollars might have just been because I was in DC at the time but that's what I got and I think a new one from the stealership was in the 300 range. Well best of luck and if you do end up jumping it regularly I recommend a 2.5 lb hammer the head is perfectly sized to jump the solenoid and the handle is insulated so you don't get shocked.

-ben

Also, as you should always do, remember to take off any rings that you normally wear. I was working around the starter and saw a spark jump from the heat shield to the positive terminal of the starter. I was thinking, "What the hell was that?" and then there was this burning sensation on my right ring finger. I looked down at my Aggie ring and noticed a burnt arc spot shortly before I yanked it off my finger. I got a big nasty burn blister on the bottom of my finger. It turns out gold really is a good electrical conductor. The top of my ring now says "Texas A&M Universit".

FYI,
I recently bought a new starter from Rovers North for $179.
Not OEM....but it works better than my old starter ever did.
Have the old one waiting in the wings....had it rebuilt for a case of cheap beer.....no I'm not selling it.

I welded a Leatherman into an non-folding lump jumping out my failed starter solenoid in the middle of nowhere... got the rig going back to a nice warm shop. The solenoid is easy to replace once you get the starter out.