First time on this forum. When I turn the key on my van I get a click sound from somewhere under the dash. I thought the stater solenoid was shot so I bought a new Bosch starter. Still get the click and no start. The manual says to check the ignition switch and wiring. Are there any relays or common problem areas in this area that I should know about to locate the problem? Anyone been there done that and have advice. This van is an old work van and has always been reliable and I'd like to keep it on the road.
Dodgevanman
08-26-2007, 02:41 PM
There is a starter relay mounted to the firewall right below the brake booster. Have someone operate the key while you listen for the relay.
alloro
08-26-2007, 05:06 PM
As Dodgemanvan pointed out, there is a relay on the firewall. However, since you're hearing a clicking sound the relay might be physically operating. The contacts in the relay might be burnt though, so you will have to check the output terminal to see if +12v is getting through it.
van-nut
08-26-2007, 10:22 PM
Welcome to DT, Karls. :cool:
Have the battery tested and make sure the cables are clean and tight.
Pete
Karls90 B250
09-02-2007, 10:43 AM
I installed a starter relay and a charged battery.....there is 12 volts to the battery......now there is not even a click when I turn the key and no lights when I try them???...any ideas as to whats going on here? Seems odd that I dont have power to the lights as I did before I changed out the relay? What am I missing?
Karls90 B250
09-02-2007, 10:49 AM
I replaced the relay...installed freshly charged battery...turn key and no click ,no red dash lights,no start....and now no headlights or accessories???? .....anyone have any ideas on where to go next?
alloro
09-02-2007, 11:40 AM
Just because you charged the battery doesn't make it good. Since you're getting no power now, either the battery is dead or your battery cables aren't making good contact.
Karls90 B250
09-02-2007, 12:16 PM
Well originally the problem was a corroded Pos cable, at the starter...the connection had rusted right off. I cleaned the cable connection and put a new end on. I'm thinking the Neg ground for the Bat has a bad connection at the block so I'm going to clean that up. Seems odd that both Pos and Neg connections would go bad at the same time? There is 12 volts at the battery.
BigBlackB250
09-02-2007, 12:25 PM
try a new cable for the neg, or maybe tap the starter, i have to sometimes, i wonder if a cop saw me whatd he say
alloro
09-02-2007, 12:35 PM
There is 12 volts at the battery.
Just while sitting there or with a load on it? Connect a meter to the battery and turn on the high beams. Does the voltage stay up around 12 or does it drop significantly?
Karls90 B250
09-03-2007, 08:46 PM
Tried turning on headlights but there is no power to them...batt voltage the same either way. There is 12 volts to all the connections on the starter relay Except for the Brown wire on the relay which reads zero. The manual shows a ballast resistor coming off the brown wire in the ignition circuit...this might be the problem. Any idea where its located?
alloro
09-03-2007, 09:03 PM
The ballast resistor only controls the ignition, so it has nothing to do with anything like the headlights.
If you're not getting any change in battery voltage when turning on the headlights then you have a loss of main power issue. Going back to when you changed the starter, is it possible that you took two large red wires off the starter and only put one back on? I ask because after you changed the starter is when this power loss problem cropped up. Plus you have 12 volts going to the starter but no where else, the power seems to stop there. I'm just trying to think of all the possibilities here.
Karls90 B250
09-03-2007, 09:16 PM
My 90 Ram has one heavy Neg cable wire to the starter and one thin wire to a smaller connection. Maybe you have an older model with a different wiring set up to the starter? I dont have any juice to the starter either. I posted my problem in the tech section to see if anyone else has any ideas. Thanks for you input though.
Dodgevanman
09-04-2007, 07:53 AM
You may have a fusible link that is burned, thus giving you no power to anything. Look to see if there is a smaller (around 10AWG) coming off the positive cable terminal and follow it up to the bulkhead (firewall) connector. You may find your problem.
Yes have your battery "load tested" if it is old. A battery can hold 12V, but as soon as any load is applied to it, it will die.
87318
09-04-2007, 05:36 PM
i had my fusible link not work so i just thought the battery was dead, but when i tried to jump it still nothing. i had no idea what was wrong until my dad came out cause i woke him up with his truck trying to jump it. he just looked at it then went a got a screwdriver and scraped it then it fired right up.
