roughstock

I went out and started all the vehicals to warm them up. After a few minutes I heard my truck trying to start on its own. Went over to stop it. open hood and there was fire. Just a small fire. My NEW fuel solenoid was flaming when I opened the hood. Threw a hand full of snow on it. the actual solenoid is a melted mess, wires are shot also. What happened?
Never had problems with starter, but i've heard that it can stick and cause F/S to overheat.
What about a bad F/S?
Thanks

J

rustyshakelford

did you wire it backwards causing a short, thus causing heat which in turn started the melting process and ultimatly a fire?

brett

roughstock

I didn't have to wire any thing. The new one came with plug attached. It has been on there for 3 months/30,000 miles. It was glass cutting cold this morning. 7 Degrees F approx. w/o windchill. Maybe starter contacts stuck?

Danavilla

I think you may have answered your own question. Starter contacts would be one of the first places I'd look.

Dan

Dr. Evil

me too..very likely the problem

doorguy

thats not cold ,thats t shirt weather

roughstock

Should I go with a pull to start cable? Other people drive my truck that may be confused by the hole pull to start thing, but I didn't really want to spend another 175 on a new solenoid.

I'm getting new starter contacts from larry b's

coiler33

Hey door guy thats more like speedo weather up here.

chadpatten

The starter contact when they stick or get old they will allow 12 to back feed the hi amp "pull" circuit of the fuel solenoid. The solenoid has two stages, a 30 amp initial pull up circuit and then a much lower amperage "hold" circuit. mine did that same thing but I was in the cab and driving on the freeway in San Jose CA! the smoke rushed up in my cab! bout gave me a heartattack! Pulled over shut her down and she was still crankin... thought it wouldn't ever stop.
Any way to help you with this problem there are a couple things to do. Call woodward governor who manufactures the solenoids for cummins. They also make a slightly different one that their other dealers carry for about 110 bucks. They also make a gadget that wires inline of the "pull" circuit that only allows a pulse of voltage to the solenoid no matter what. The stock setup is really a flawed design. You can also wire a slow burn fuse in line on that "pull" circuit so if it happens it will pop the fuse before melting such an expensive part. The Woodward dealer for this stuff is Berge's Governor Service in Long Beach. Their PH. is 310-830-4592.
There always is a manual choke cable into the dash.

Chad

roughstock

Thanks chadpatten and everyone else. I bought a new woodward solenoid for 165 which i thought was a good price. I also ordered new contacts and plunger for the starter and the special backfeed one way terminal, to stop this from happening again. Getting this from larry b's.
Thanks