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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2003
06:29:13
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 Subject: 3.9 wont start
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I have a 92 V6 auto and it sometimes cranks. Usually when it is warmed up good it will crank better. Ill turn the key and always at least get a click. I keep at it, click click click then itll try to turn over then most of the time itll finally start. Is the starter or the solenoid to blame??? Its $100 and what I think is a headache to do. Any suggestions or quick/cheap fixes. Thanks
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vern
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2003
07:32:11
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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a new starter is the quickest and easiest[advance auto parts about $80 rebuilt,exchange]
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chris
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2003
09:19:57
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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after checking all the wire connections .a starter is the way to go
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GB2000
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2003
10:41:07
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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That problem used to be a frequent visitor with our old van (GM). We replaced the starter three times and it still did it. My grandpa was doing some reading and found that problem mentioned. I don't know jack squat about starters so I'm not sure exactly what parts of it that it's referring to, but it says that there's like some kind of switches that flip in the starter and it's a common problem that they aren't properly lubricated when they come out of the factory so sometimes they get stuck and that's what causes that clicking sound when you try to start it. They say to solve that problem, those switch things need lubricated. Tell me if that doesn't make sense and I can try to ask my grandpa for a better explanation. What he ended up doing to get ours to start before he read about that problem was he just tried to start it over and over again real fast and after a few minutes it'd work loose and try starting again. You just do it so fast that when it quits clicking you'll prolly get it to start to turn over, but unless you are quick to notice it, you may let off before it catches and have to try and start it again. I don't know how safe that is on the starter or the rest of the ignition, but I know it did work for us.
Josh
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2003
18:32:23
|  RE: 3.9 wont start
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Thanks Josh. I figured the starter was to blame, but it seems (as you said) the starter is still good. Ill probably take it off and get Auto Zone to check it and clean and lube it while its off. Also I've heard the ignition switch could be the blame. Occasionally when it does crank, the radio and A/C wont come on. Ignition swith or starter, which should I try first. Thanks again fellas
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Willy
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2003
18:36:30
|  RE: 3.9 wont start
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maybe you have a bad ground conection
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JKnPA
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2003
20:22:54
|  RE: 3.9 wont start
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Joe,
How old is your battery and starter???
As Chris said......make sure all your wire connections on your starter are clean/tight. If your solenoid is clicking.......you are getting voltage to your solenoid(coil) so your ignition circuit is working.
So if your starter connections are clean/tight you may have a weak battery, bad solenoid, or bad starter.
Hope that helps....
John....
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DakSport
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2003
02:45:31
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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mine had the same problem today. tightened the neg battery cable and it fires up no problem
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Kracker
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2003
02:55:45
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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I'd try the battery first, you ever try cranking a marine battery in your dak in the winter? that drains it good... hehe
---Kracker
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JknPA
Dodge Dakota
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4/15/2003
19:47:10
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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Joe,
When you post a question.....it would be nice to post a "solution'........otherwise we are wasting our time......
Did you fix the problem or not???
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2003
07:09:49
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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Hey. Im bout to take the starter off and take it to auto zone and get them to check it for free. I have ruled out the battery, since the altimeter shows normal and the starter doesnt continously try to turn it. It either clicks or starts. So the solenoid is good. According to Haynes manual it is the starter relay, solenoid contacts, or possibly the starter itself. Thanks for the help. I will post a solution when I fix it, which should be by Monday. Joe
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NewIn92
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2003
17:09:45
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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Same problem with mine last year. Pulled starter;
(you will need a LONG extension for one of the bolts) and cleaned the spalls off the contact rings. Bench tested a dozen times and it worked fine. Put it back in and it clicked again! Went to Advance and got a rebuilt. Worked OK sinced.
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JKnPA
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2003
18:44:03
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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Joe,
Ok......the hardest problem is removing and re-installing the starter. So its best to check the wiring and battery before working on the starter.
Do the easiest jobs first.
Good luck......
John....
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Snickersbps
Dodge Dakota
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4/18/2003
08:14:59
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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if it does "click,click,click,click,start" or something of the same, then 99% its the starter or a component there of. the solenoid is getting old and its trying to pull too much of the battery's juice to start you car, which in turn overloads it before it cranks. if they test it, and it works, that doesnt mean too much, because it isnt load tested at these places. had mine tested and it kept blowing the circuts at the shop. the guy had the nerve to tell me it worked fine and his circuts were screwy. so i put it back it(chevy 350...5 min job, max) clicked 25 times!!! the excessive juice made it worse. so i told them to give me a new one, and its worked great ever since, about a year and a half later.
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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4/18/2003
12:30:56
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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Yeah, I heard the 350 was only 2 bolts and thats it. I looked under the Dakota yesterday and it is a little snug behind the engine. It clicks once per key turn. I can hold the key down and nothing else will happen. Is something in the ignition a possibility, because the key doesnt return to its "after cranked position" which is either on or run i believe. And I pointed out that sometimes (which happened yesterday) the truck cranked right up, but no power, no ac, no radio, and all the instrument lights were on. I assumed everything electrical wasnt turned on. Im just looking for the perfect place to start. Thanks
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JKnPA
Dodge Dakota
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4/18/2003
15:53:55
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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Snickersbps,
If you have loose/dirty connections on your solenoid/starter you will get intermittent operation of your starter. Joe has never confirmed the wiring is OK. I would verify the wiring is OK before I buy a new starter, but that's me.
Joe,
If you are also having a problem with your ignition switch.........it may be causing a
"short", which can cause all sorts of erratic operations.
John.....
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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4/18/2003
23:15:11
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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What would be causing the short?? The starter or the ignition switch?? I dont drive the truck every day but it seems the more often I drive it the less the problem is starting it. Thanks everyone, I'll tell what happens as I work it. Oh yeah, the other day I sprayed brake cleaner and WD-40 all over it, but nothing happened. I pulled back the cover to the wires on the starter. Does the starter only have one wire going into it??? I think maybe it would have two, right? One from the battery and another from the solenoid. Just my thoughts.
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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4/23/2003
05:43:58
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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Thanks everyone. All I did was spray the brake cleaner then spray some silicone spray. The day I sprayed it was intermittent. It wasnt a sure start everytime. But a couple days after it starts every time with no trouble (knock, knock). It appears good and I took it on delivery w/me today and it stood up to about 15 starts in a couple hours. Ill leave it alone unless it starts back. Joe
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Joe
Dodge Dakota
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6/06/2003
17:23:56
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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I took my truck out one night and the radiator hose had blown from a long burnout the last time I drove it. So as Im driving it home while trying to keep it cool(by turning engine off at long redlights)it took me 5min to restart it. I should have just replaced the starter eearlier but I am lazy. I got autozones cheapest starter at $75, which the contacts didnt exactly match up and put on a new hose and flushed the radiator and its back to new. Thanks for the help and remember not to be lazy like me or you may be left stranded. Gotta love a Dodge. 2problems at once and it still got me home.
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Ken
Dodge Dakota
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8/07/2003
18:46:53
| This is what fixed mine-
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I had the exact same problem as Joe. 1992 3.9 Engine. After over a year of bumping the shifter and only hearing one click until it finally just turned over, I went to Autozone and spent the best $77 I spent all year. I purchased a starter. Now it turns over quickly and starts every time. Thanks for all your help!
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JOe
Dodge Dakota
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8/07/2003
21:52:26
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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Hey Ken, did the contacts line up on your starter. Since we both got Autozone's cheapest starter, I think its a duralast or something like that, It seems we got the same unit. Mine would not line up at the contacts(power wires) and I had to bend and cut at it, but it does havea lifetime warranty so thats cool.
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joe
Dodge Dakota
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8/15/2003
12:05:46
| RE: 3.9 wont start
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make sure you check all the connections to your starter and make sure they are snug.
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