Beast2B

OK, my son's truck is a 96 12v with 200k on the clock. when you go to start the truck (hot or cold engine, warm or cold ambient temps) it either cranks and cranks or it starts right up. no pattern, but it has never started after cranking for a while. if it cranks more than a couple times you know it ain't lighting off! is there a relay or solenoid or something that is involved in getting fuel flowing when cranking? we jumped the truck to my truck to make sure it had plenty of battery just in case, but it was no different....
any ideas?

lifer

It sounds like the relay that engages the shutdown solenoid is going bad . It is on the fire wall over the top of the engine. There are 2 of them right next to each other, one is for the grid heaters the other is for the shutdown solenoid. To test it, the next time it won't start you can manually pull the solenoid straight up and have someone else start it while you hold it. The solenoid is attached to the injection pump near the back. It is the thing with the rubber boot on the bottom. Fostertruck.com has good prices for the relay.

infidel

Check that the blue wire coming off the driver's side battery isn't corroded.
It can be corroded under the insulation where you can't see it.
If corroded it will stretch like a rubber band when you pull on it.

If that's not it problem is likely the solenoid lift up relay on the firewall.
You can buy one and read all about it here http://www.fostertruck.com/dodge/default.htm

Beast2B

Thanks. I knew you'd point me in the right direction. We'll check it out this afternoon. I still have the 96 auto that got totalled (broken frame!) a few months ago, so spares should be handy...