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2000 6spd 7.3 doesnt even crank

5.5K views 22 replies 7 participants last post by  kamaleon  
#1 ·
Truck was running fine last time i used it (4 weeks ago). Now it wont even crank! what could have happed for just sitting during that time??

baterries were weak so i changed both of them, still no go..

starter is about a year old, kind of early to go out so soon i think.

i also have 6pos chip in the computer..

any ideas??
 
#3 ·
changed cps about 2 years ago for the blue one (international).... how likely?
 
#8 ·
ditto that.. as a norm, i never leave my vehicles in gear unless is on an hill. And when on a hill i also use a stone on one of the wheels as an extra precaution..

u mean on top of the fender well?? or inside (removing wheel well dust cover) ??
 
#11 ·
I mislead you a little it would be on the inner fender pass side couple inches behind the battery up high close to the hood. starter solenoid is what it is not a relay. It's easy to get to. of the two large posts, one goes to the battery the other to the starter. If you jump them together your starter will spin. If not you have bad starter or bad or weak batteries or dirty connections.
 
#10 ·
chip is secured. I made sure it wouldn't move when i installed along with a velcro attachment to keep it in place.

If all else fails i'll check the chip last, hate to disconnect/reconnect battery terminals on this truck (need to find new nuts).
 
#12 · (Edited)
Found the starter relay attached to the passenger fender behind the battery with part #: F5TU-11450-AA..

I used a 14ga copper wire to jump the relay, left the key in on position, ran to te hengine bay and waited about 30 secs before jumping it. The started 'tried' to kick but it stopped almost as soon as it started.

Every other attempt after that made no movement or sound (except the ocational spark from using the wire), tried with and without the clutch pressed, same result.

?!?

edit: Erik, i didn't see your post before making mine... So its definate that is a bad starter? not even a year old... This test is the same thing as running a wire straight from the battery to the starter?
 
#13 · (Edited)
If it was me I would make absoluty sure all the battery terminals were very clean and tight. And the batteries fully charged. If you jump it at the solenoid and it cranks then it SHOULD do the very same with the key, if not then I would start checking fuses. If it does not crank it could be the starter or bad connections with the cables. But a one year old starter does not sound likely to be the problem. One other thought. If it cranks by jumping the soleniod but dead at the key and you can't find a blown fuse. Maybe check the switch at the clutch peddle. Clutch must be depressed to start with Key. I don't know where that switch is. That's about all I can think of good luck with yours, Iam still trying to get mine going .....so what do I know!
 
#14 · (Edited)
i havent got much time to tackle the issue with the truck until this morning.. with a volt meter, I see 12v to the starter without the key in the ignition, it drops to 11.3 when insert the key and put it in 'on'.. is this normal?

now, i jumped the solenoid at the fender and behold, it crancked! didnt 'start' but at least it cranks now but only by jumping the solenoid.

is the problem the ignition switch or the solenoid?

edit: I dont think it's the clutch switch, i have a remote start system that bypasses the clutch and it doesn't start that way either.
 
#15 ·
how long did it crank for?? since it hasnt ran in 4 weeks it may need extra cranking time. 11.3 volts with the glow plugs on is a normal voltage. I would take off the battery terminals and CLEAN them with brush and baking soda and water mix. Just to make sure your getting all that power from the battery to the starter.
 
#16 ·
batteries are new (2 weeks old), terminals were cleaned when batteries were installed. I cranked a few times each time for about 5-6 secs. don't want to overheat the starter..
Anyone knows the longest - safest time that wont hurt the starter?

I dont know if its gonna help but i just plug it in, its being cold lately teens to low 30's oil seems a bit thick but its about 1000 miles old.

called the dealer and they have the starter relay on hand. just want to make sire is that before i go get it.
 
#17 ·
id get it started before you do anything. let it crank for about 25 seconds. it wont hurt the starter. Just wait about 5 minutes in between cranking to let started to cool. good luck
 
#18 ·
my truck wont start without being plugged in. i have 225,000 on mine. also use a lighter weight oil in the cold months. im at 10w 30 and made a huge improvement
 
#19 ·
Looking back at through the threads. Am I right in beleiving that you turn the key and nothing happens? but if you jump the seloniod it cranks? Here's a sugestion to let you know if your seloniod is bad or not. With the truck in park or neutral. take a small jumper wire and this time instead of jumping across the two large poles on the seloniod, jump from the positive battery post to the SMALL terminal on the seloniod. Just pull the wire off of the terminal. If the starter cranks then your seloniod is OK. In that case you have a problem between the key and the seloniod, maybe a fuse?
 
#20 ·
Thanks Erik for your post.

When i turn the key all lights work, but the starter doesnt engage. When i jump the relay the starter cranks.

The fuses in cabin are all ok, check them twice this morning.

i'll try bypasing the small wire to test relay/solenoid, good thinking..
 
#21 ·
well, bypasses the small wire.. nothing

tried to jump the large pots again just to see if it would start now. and guess what... starter didn't crank this time either.. :dunno:

i'm going to replace the relay this afternoon and go from there..
 
#23 ·
FIXED!!

After replacing the starter relay the truck started just like it supposed to!! woohoo!!

Thanks to everyone that helped!

I have to point out that there were a few times were jumping the pods didn't do a thing, which let me to think the problem may be elsewhere...