Starter issue

[billsincali]

We have a 2004 Fleetwood on a freightliner chassis with the 8.3 Cummins motor. Had the wires overheat going the the starter and the starter wouldn't work after that. Had a new one installed and seemed ok until 2 days later the same thing happened. We got it back home and am wondering what could cause this. We are in So. Cal. Near yucaipa/Redlands. Any recommendations on a good shop to take it to. We have the extended warranty through campers edge.

TIA

[Smitty77]

Colton Trucks. Best of luck sorting this out...

Smitty

[Mr_D]

Good luck with the service policy company too. They usually won't pay much, if anything for diagnostics.

[gatorcq]

Did they replace the cables also? Heat will destroy them. Loose connections causes heat and high current. This maybe what happen. So, the cable to the stater should have beed changes out also. Plus check where to cable is attached to.

[TeJay]

What Dale was saying it this. Of all electric devices in any vehicle the starter requires the greatest amount of current. It's in the range of 150 AMPS. Your radio needs about 1-amp, headlights 15 amps, blower motor maybe 12 amps.

When there's a bad connection (loose, corroded,) the good connection becomes a high resistance connection. With all that demand those connections become very hot. Also voltage is lost (dropped) trying to get through the bad connection and the starter won't crank.

The wire in a toaster is high resistance and that's why it glows red hot.

[Old Scout]

...might also check the secondary starter solenoid to make sure its not sticking closed....most rigs have a primary/high amp starter solenoid on the starter [wired directly to batteries], with a secondary/low amp solenoid controlled by the ignition to trigger the primary solenoid.....

[palehorse89]

Might just be the starter has gone bad, drawing high amps when trying to start the engine......

[gatorcq]

Thank you, I tend to not write out the complete meaning

[wa8yxm]

Pontiac had that problem on some cars. IT actually started fires..

Their solution was a relay .. At least on my Daughter's car.

Currently a wire runs from the Ignition to the starter solenoid

The "new" Wiring it ran to a relay, called a Pilot relay, and that relay ran the solenoid

Same as I just did with my lube pump,

[billsincali]

Thanks for all the replys. This gives me hope that it's nothing major just locating the problem may be fun. We are gonna have it in the shop next week and will keep you updated on the findings and how campers edge warranty handles the claim

[billsincali]

So it turns out the ignition switch was bad. Had a new starter put in and when the key was turned to on the engine would start and the starter would stay running. New starter and new ignition and hope all is well now!

As for campers edge, still trying to get them to cover the cost of the first roadside call and the second roadside call. They say even though it was a holiday weekend and the phones werent being answered that the roadside service I called cant be covered.

[Dav L]

I guess that is one disadvantage to a DP...can't hear the starter turning while the engine is running in the back...

[billsincali]

Originally Posted by billsincali

So it turns out the ignition switch was bad. Had a new starter put in and when the key was turned to on the engine would start and the starter would stay running. New starter and new ignition and hope all is well now!

As for campers edge, still trying to get them to cover the cost of the first roadside call and the second roadside call. They say even though it was a holiday weekend and the phones werent being answered that the roadside service I called cant be covered.

UPDATE:
After discussing the claim at length with Campers Edge/ Warrantech, they have decided not to pay the claim as the first call made was not to them to authorize the repair. I first tried to find a mechanic to help with the problem instead of calling them and getting the repair authorized.