Hi everyone. My truck started doing this a few weeks ago but it now has got alot worse. When I go to start my truck it barely turns over and sounds like when you have bad batteries. While it barely starts, it starts every time. I had the batteries tested, they where ok but I went ahead and bought new ones. The old ones where about 6 years old. I also cleaned the battery cables even though they where pretty clean. About two summers ago I installed a new starter because the old one just quit. It doesn't matter if its cold or hot outside, it still does this. Also, I can go for a long trip, stop at the store and get back in a few minutes later, go to start it up and the same thing happens. I really don't know what to look for and what to do. Also, maybe my truck has always done this and I haven't noticed but is the compressor suppose to kick off and on even when there are no heat/ac controls turned on? When this happens it makes my voltage drop big time and my interior/exterior lights all dim big time. Please HELP me.....it might be something simple and I just don't know what to do. Thanks in advance.

 

that click you are hearing is not your ac compressor...there are two solenoids under your drivers side battery. unplug 1 of the little wires on each and see what happens after that. sounds like your grid heaters are possibly screwing it up. have your Engine Coolant Temp sensor checked to see if the PCM is getting a proper reading

 

Sounds like burnt contacts in the starter it self. You can change these yourself and they are not expensive or that hard to do.
Could also be bad cables or connections

 

Sounds like your starter is on its way out. I had the same thing happen on my dually, the brushes were all worn out and arc marks were on the slip rings. Get a set of brushes and contacts and rebuild it.

The voltage drop is from your grid heaters, its normal for anything less than 20C/60F.


FYI, its the IAT sensor that trips the grids, not the coolant temp.

 

Was the new starter you put on a rebuild from a parts store? They are known for not lasting long. The diesel starter and gas starter are different but when the cores are rebuilt they all get shuffled together. I would get a set of contacts and try them.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=141395

Floyd

 

Was able to work on my truck this weekend. First, thanks for the help to everyone. It was my starter. The last one I replaced a few years ago, came with a lifetime warranty, so I went and got another free of charge. Installed and she started right up...so happy!

 

ah yes tate you are correct i told him the wrong sensor thanx for catching that.

 

Don't be surprised if the new one doesn't last as long. Many people have been reporting that the auto parts "lifetime warranty" starters rarely make it even 10,000 miles.
Best to rebuild the OEM starter yourself or by a shop. Never give the OEM away as a core.
If you tire of replacing the lifetimer spend the extra money on an OEM.