New dodge owner, 97 3500 auto.... on vacation in Canada along way from nowhere...went to start truck this am and just clicking when turned ign. on. after about 5 clicks truck started....put boat in and thought I could hear something funny from engine... also I noticed the alt. gauge was low. when I turned the key off, nothing happened when switched engine off...engine kept running. when it finally died the starter was engaged....while trying to pull neg. battery posts off....it finally quit. I have limited tools..now what? ya know just thinking about it...I wonder it the low alt. gauge was because the starter was engaged....the whole time....would lubeing something or taking it apart and cleaning it help??? did I do any damage to anything by the starter running that long maybe 10 min.?

 

Some times the contacts in the starter solenoid will spot weld them selfs together , keeping the start engaged , that in turn will backfeed to the fuel shut off relay - keeping the fuel going to the eng.
You may not want to turn the eng. off again , thats if you get it started , because if the contacts in the starter solenoid are that bad it may not work ,
If you do get it started , disconnect the main battery cable at starter and rap with electrical tape so as to not contact ground , now you have a running eng. and will shut off , drive to a rebuilt starter .
Its possible to fix in the field , but the chance of having a bigger problem is high [ as most know the worst goes wrong at the worst possible time ] taking the contacts out and filing or sanding , the problem being that its very easy to break the insulators to the starter body for the start wire & battery wire , do to age making them brittle .

 

starter contacts are your issue...where are u located right now?

u need to change out the contacts in there...any starter place has them...u need to remove the starter...u need a 12 point wrench to remove the starter bolts...i can take u through the rest if u decide to take this route

 

When the starter is engaged it feeds power to the high amperage portion of the shut down solenoid causing it to burn up. For sure this happened if the key was off and the engine ran for ten minutes. You can finish your trip by wiring the the solenoid up in the run position. Of course you will have to open your hood every time you start or shutdown.

Worn out $8 starter contacts that stuck caused your problem. You can usually unstick them by rapping on the starter with a hammer, rock, etc. They might stick the next time you start it or go a hundred times before sticking again.

 

Hit the solenoid , not the starter , the starter has permanent magnets , if you hit just right , you can crack a magnet , then the starter will never work , the contacts are in the solenoid .

 

There is some good advice here, what part of canada are you in , maybe there is a member close to you that could come lend a hand if needed.

 

I am in Nestor falls, Ontario, about 65 miles above Internation falls, MN.....After I let it cool down, I then bumped the starter with the key...it turned over...then I got ready to disconnet the batt. neg posts in case, and started it, fired right up and sounded good no starter issues, and shut right off again.. when it happened this am the truck ran for 10 min with key on, then when tried to shut off...would not, did not run for 10 min with key off. Were set to leave for home on this wed. So it's a starter issue (right) and the guy down the road can get me one for 400$ WOW Maybe I should try to make it home and repair from there???

 

OH and thanks a bunch for all the help....it's nice to know that all this help is out there.....what a great site!!!

 

You bet, we would, just ask. if close i well be there with tools in hand, and any parts you may need.

2003 QC SB full gauges no engine mods(yet)

 

And as above you don't need the whole starter, just the contacts for the solinoid. About an $8 part. There ae some heavy duty contacts avail but you just need any that will repair the solinoid for now. They will last for quite a few miles at least till you get a chance to get better and time to install. See if there is a garage or truck stop around that is diesel repair and ask them if they can rebuild your solinoid and that should repair your problem.....

 

I noticed before once and a while when I turned the key to start, nothing would happen.... no clicking, I thought it was the"wait to start" not letting it go.... now I wonder if it's part of the starter...... .am ordering a soleniod kit...wondering if it needs brushes too. Might as well order the parts now and have them at home waiting for me. Any ideas....note. am just going to wait to go home..hope it fires up and run all the was home with out shutting her off.
about 400 miles.....

 

That's what I'd do - 400 miles is an easy day's cruise w/no shutdown!