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Won't Start - Blown Fuse

Old Mar 14, 2008 | 02:25 PM
  #1  
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Unhappy Won't Start - Blown Fuse

Good afternoon to all.

Tried to start vehicle this morning and nothing. No clicking sound but had power to the dash.

This afternoon checked fuses and found the 50amp Ignition/Accessory fuse blown. Last night we had freezing rain if that would be any help.

Can anyone help in my isolating this problem.
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Old Mar 14, 2008 | 04:27 PM
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From: North Carolina or Kentucky. Take your pick
Try replacing fuse with correct one. Look at wiring for any obvious damage or rubbing especially under dash (drivers side) and in engine compartment.
It may be just a cycling failure and nothing to worry about. Another failure will indicate porblem. Have there been any electrical issues of late?
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Old Mar 14, 2008 | 05:09 PM
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From: St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Dozer

Have already replkaced the blown fuse with another one and it promptly blew again.

Have to go to the store tomorrow and buy a few which gives me this evening to look through the wiring diagrams.

Be advised that the fuse in question is in the power distribution centre.
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Old Mar 14, 2008 | 05:23 PM
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just had this problem with a friends truck... turned out a short in the starter case. might want to disconnect all power going to starter and try that first if. the truck cycles the key successfully with the cables isolated from the starter then i suggest having it checked out. might get away with a solinoid kit install... just my .02c worth
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Old Mar 14, 2008 | 05:31 PM
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From: My head lays down in Murrieta, but the day light hours are spent in San Diego, Ca.
Yeah, I had the same problem. It was the starter. Becuase of time restraints, I replaced the starter instead of replacing the contacts with a heavy duty kit.
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Old Mar 14, 2008 | 06:00 PM
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From: St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Thanks Gilbertsdodge and JPR Ram.

I have a feeling that it would probably be in the starter. It probably got soaked yesterday when I drove through a fairly deep puddle of water on one of our pot-holed streets. Will confirm in the morning.
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Old Mar 14, 2008 | 06:01 PM
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From: Cleveland, Oklahoma
good luck with it let us know how it turns out!
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Old Mar 14, 2008 | 06:07 PM
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IIRC, it could be the fuel shutoff solenoid as well. Have seen many a melted wire on those!
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Old Mar 14, 2008 | 07:06 PM
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FMB
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From: Old Norte Mexico
Originally Posted by Captum
Tried to start vehicle this morning and nothing. No clicking sound but had power to the dash.
It was a wire grounded on my '03, not sure if you may have the same problem. See the pics in this thread.
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Old Mar 15, 2008 | 12:34 PM
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From: St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Exclamation

It is now turning into a nightmare.

The ignition & accessory fuse 10 (50 amp) in the power distribution centre blows due to fuse 6 (wiper) and 8 (radio) being in place. Pulled those fuses and am able to start the vehicle only by applying 12 volts directly to the starter solenoid and with the key in the run position. This now rules out the starter as being the problem.

However, in the starter relay, located in the power distribution box, there is supposed to be a constant 12+ volts at pin 30 which I am not geting. When I attempt to start, I can get 12+ volts at pin 86 of the starter motor relay.

To me it now appears that I may have 2 problems:
1 - Problems inside the power distribution centre itself
2 - A bad ground somewhere in the wiper and radio circuits

I have to take a break and rethink everything.



Having now had time to think things over, I now believe that all problems point towards the power distribution centre itself. The wiper and radio circuits are shorting out inside.
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Old Mar 18, 2008 | 02:54 AM
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you might check out the ign switch thats the only place i can think where those two cicuits tie in together. I haven't peronally seen it but ive heard about the column shroud rubbing wires, and i've also heard of the switch going bad
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Old Mar 18, 2008 | 11:32 AM
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From: On the Farm, Manitoba
Are you inside in a heated shop? You got some pretty heavy weather yesterday and if you are outside it could be possible for the water/snow to have frozen across some terminals under the PDC.
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 09:24 AM
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From: lyman, utah
Originally Posted by vzdude
IIRC, it could be the fuel shutoff solenoid as well. Have seen many a melted wire on those!
'01s don't have the solenoid
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 06:01 PM
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From: St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Blown Fuse Update

For the past 4 days, the old girl has been back on the road.

Found that the solenoid fuse had also blown. Was able to start the vehicle by jumping the solenoid wire directly to the battery. As I initially only got 2.5 volts to the solenoid, I cleaned the starter relay contacts and using the key, the truck started up perfectly.

The fuses to the radio and wipers were then replaced, expecting the 50 amp fuse to blow again, but was pleasantly surprised when nothing happened.

I still believe that I have an intermittent fault inside the "Power Distribution Centre" and will replace this unit if anything like this happens again (Dealer price $ 400 to $ 500). The only thing I am now afraid of is a fire starting up inside the "PDC".

Thank for all the advice.
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 06:07 PM
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From: My head lays down in Murrieta, but the day light hours are spent in San Diego, Ca.
Keep an eye out on EBay. Also while on EBay try doing a search for Redlinear. He always has a bunch of Dodge Cummins stuff. Here is the link to his EBay store: http://stores.ebay.com/Redlinear_W0Q...Q3amesstQQtZkm
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