Help 911 Broke down

[lincoln]

I put this here but not realy sure of problem. I started truck to go to a friends and had to stand on clutch pedel to get it to start. Now that I try to leave it wont start and Im 2 hours away from home. Anyone have an idea. I havent been having any other problems with the truck. All of my lights and everything are working, just wonderd if there was a sensor or something I havent found. Thanks in advance.

[Begle1]

There are several sensors and switches that can go bad to no-start an engine.


To troubleshoot:

Start with the shut-off solenoid on the top of the injection pump; it's on the top, behind the aneroid saucer thing, with one wire going to it. See if that has voltage when you turn on the ignition. If it doesn't have voltage, then it won't run. You can jump 12 volts to it in a pinch; the real problem would be an open in the wire somewhere, or a problem in the ignition switch.

After you have 12 volts to the shut-off solenoid, it should start after you jumper the relay. Take a ~14 gauge wire, twist it so that both ends are about a 3/8" apart facing the same direction. Look for the starter solenoid plug; it is black, about 3/4" across, 3" long, and should just a few inches from the positive terminal of the battery. Unplug it, and slide the wire into the female ends. That will kick over the engine. If that doesn't do it, then there is a starter problem. Make sure that the truck is in neutral before you jumper the starter or else you will run yourself over.

[lincoln]

Thank you sir Ill give it a shot.

[KTA]

Sounds like you have a problem with your clutch pedal switch. There is a safety switch in the dash that prevents you from starting the truck without having the clutch pedal down so it wouldn't move if it was in gear. I find it commonly bypassed on trucks much like deleted dome lamp switches.

[Richie O]

He is going to pull start it and go home that way.

[dpuckett]

My money is on the clutch safety switch. Jumper it with a scotchlock, and you wont have that problem again.

You can also unplug the connector close to the batter with a pink and a brown wire, going down the positive cable to the starter. Jump the pink and brown wires and it will start.

DP

[cummins king]

But i was always taught that you star a manual vehile with the clutch down, so why you it be an issue if he has to put the clutch down to start?

[RumbleFish]

My money is on the clutch safety switch. Jumper it with a scotchlock, and you wont have that problem again.

you can jump it, but i wouldnt use a scotchlock. those are nothing but problems.

[lincoln]

Thank you men for all the info. I pushed it down a hill to start to get home. I have narowed it down to the clutch switch, so I bypassed it tell I can buy another one. Sucks I have 3 parts trucks but they are all auto's.

[dpuckett]

The diesel autos have a plug in you can install to bypass the clutch switch if you want.

Take a look at your pedal linkages. I'd bet there is some slack in them. New bushings can still be had from Dodge, and they arent that expensive, IIRC.

[lincoln]

My money is on the clutch safety switch. Jumper it with a scotchlock, and you wont have that problem again.

You can also unplug the connector close to the batter with a pink and a brown wire, going down the positive cable to the starter. Jump the pink and brown wires and it will start.

DP

I jumped it so I could get around yesterday. Today I figured I could just bypass it with a switch but bow nothing happens. Also its kinda funny I forgot all those wires where disconected this morning and it tried to start but wouldnt. Then I tried to jump it and would try but nothing. After the 2ncd time it wont do anything now. Everything else in the truck is working like it is supposed to though. Anyone have any ideas.

[lincoln]

I undone what I did earlier and just hooked a wire up directly to the starter and battery to a switch. Now when I push the button all it does is click like the starter is weak. Im confused now

[PToombs]

Sounds like the starter went bad. Might be the problem all along.

[lincoln]

Starter going bad would cause it to act like it did in the begining?

[dpuckett]

Yeah, it could. Carry a rubber mallet in the cab, and when it acts up, beat on it. Or, you could just get it rebuilt if you're not a cheapskate.

DP