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Blowing starter solenoids???please help

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2019 9:43 pm
by Wyothing
I am having trouble with blowing starter solenoids, please help.
My problem started when I put a battery charger on one battery. I charged it up no problem. I did the same for the second battery and forgot it overnight. But the real issue, I hate to admit, is that I forgot to turn the main shut off behind the seat. Thus I exposed the entire electrical system to my battery charging.

When I tried to start the truck after charging. It turned over for a split second and stopped. Then it just clicked at the starter. I pulled the starter and checked it on the bench with the solenoid removed. It spun up. So I replaced the solenoid and put it back in the truck. It started up just fine. I put everything back and it started a second time just fine. I left and a couple hours later went to start it and it just started clicking at the starter again. I am sure I fried my solenoid. I had one spare so now I will order another.

I checked all the breakers and nothing seems out of the ordinary. SO I don't want to order another solenoid and burn it up without figuring out the problem.

Could this be a problem with the voltage regulator? Did I fry it too? And if so it is under the dog house on the passenger side behind the axe so to speak? If not then I have fried something else.

Also, I run a pinzi SSI.

Re: Blowing starter solenoids???please help

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 12:43 am
by David Dunn
Before doing anything else, check voltage on both batteries. Your charging might have finished off a questionable battery. A 'clicking' solenoid is a quick indicator of low battery voltage. Check before attempting to start it and again after trying to cranking it.

Re: Blowing starter solenoids???please help

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:55 am
by mm58
I will second what David suggests.
I was having starter/solenoid issues, and it turned out to be one of the batteries was just too low voltage.

Re: Blowing starter solenoids???please help

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 7:51 am
by Wyothing
I checked the batteries and both were good.

Re: Blowing starter solenoids???please help

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 9:01 am
by Wyothing
Mr Dunn I believe you were right. I checked both batteries and both were over 12 volts. So then I tried to start truck and nothing. Checked again and the front battery was 11 volts. I didn't think that was too low but apparently it is. I put jumper cables on the front battery and the truck turned over but slowly. So bingo. I think the battery is just on the edge.

Thanks so much for the help. I was jumping over the simple things getting carried away with bigger issues.

Re: Blowing starter solenoids???please help

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:55 am
by David Dunn
A volt meter will give you a voltage, but once a load is added, any shorts within the batteries or a loose connection will raise their ugly faces, :( .

Unfortunately, my TDI 718K has dual voltages and has entirely different characteristics with low battery voltage (which I thought I knew :roll: ) Its still teaching me. :lol: