In the last few days, my 98 12V has become very hard to get started.

Turn the key to the start position, and just a click. Might repeat it 2 times or 20 times before it will turn over. When it does turn over, it cranks fast and fires right away.

I don't believe the batteries are the issue as it turns over good (when it does turn).

Starter?
Relay?
Wires?
Starter contacts?


I'm kind of inexperienced when it comes to these kind of things. I've never had to trouble shoot or fix electrical demons, so I don't even know where to start.

Your help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Chad

 

What about brushes? Could that be part of the problem?

 

Starter contacts. Mine did the same thing.

 

Starter contacts, replace them before they stick on and burn up your $200 shutdown solenoid.
You can get them here http://www.fostertruck.com/dodge/default.htm

 

Thanks. Just ordered a set of those. I'll see what happens.
Hopefully they ship fast.

 

They showed up today. Installed them tonight after work. Other than the starter bolts being extremely tight, it was a cake-walk.

Thanks for the tip on my problem. It seems to be starting fine now!


By the way, one of the old contacts was paper thin, while the other was probably still 80% intact. Is that normal?

Also, I found it funny that I read somewhere that the stock contacts last about 100,000 miles. I'm a little ******. I only got 99,854 on mine. Somehow, I feel a little gypped.

 

Uh-oh, I'm around 185,000 miles with my original starter. Come to think of it my truck has done this problem about twice now. Go to start, click, bring key back and try again, she starts.

 

I saw this thread the other day and my truck was doing the same thing! I picked up a set of the heavy duty contacts and plunger from Triple D Performance in Coon Rapids, MN and installed then tonight (along with a new lift pump - ugg.) and the truck starts awesome now. I had the same issue - one side was paper thin and the other was all there still?

 

Totally normal.
It's due to the way direct current (DC) flows. The negative side sparks when contact is made and when the starter spins. Sparks are really just molten metal shedding off.

80-100k seems to be about the average life of the stock contacts, the super sized ones last about 50k longer.
Of course it all depends on how much you start your truck.
If you drive 400 miles every time you start it the contacts will probably go for 500k

 

Don't get me wrong. I was thrilled that it was such a cheap easy fix.

I just thought it was hilarious that after reading "around 100k", I checked my odometer. Couldn't have hit it much closer.

On a side note, does anyone know if a 4BT in a skid steer uses the same starter? Friend of mine is having similar starter issues in his machine, and if it's the same starter, I'll just give him my stocker that is like new thickness.

Thanks