Sporadic Starting Problems

I used to have the same issue on a Pete with a C15 that I drove. It would always start on the 2nd or 3rd time I turned the key. Thing is, the truck was totalled (not by me) before the problem was fixed, so sorry I'm not much help. I would guess it would be a connection somewhere though, not the starter.

 

Cleaning your connections would definitely be the cheapest and simplest place to start. Ours will once in a while do nothing when you turn the key, turn it again and they go. Last winter it started doing it a lot, assumed the starter had developed a dead spot, so we replaced it. Hardly ever does it now. We paid $248 for a reman (12.7 series 60), took an experienced mechanic all of an hour to change it. $600 seems a little high unless they're also charging you for the core, $187. I could do it myself now that I watched it get done, but it would take me longer. Can't remember the size, but you need 12 pt sockets with long extension.

 

Gears I know on my old FLD it had a small solenoid on the fire wall above where the steering shaft comes through.Like an old ford pickup.I could cross it to get my starter to work.Dont know if the Century has this but it was about $15 for the FLD.

 

Gears I have had the same starting issues for the last year but always starts once I turn the key off then back on. KW here w/Cat c15. I have even asked mechanic few months back & reply was possible loose connection, cleaned most I could think of but every once in while still same deal. Let us know what you find out.

EW

 

Yes clean the terminals on the battery and the connections on the starter, but also do the ground connections to the frame from the engine and the batteries. A bad or intermittant ground will give you this symptom, as will a solenoid on it's last legs.

 

Hey gears, good to see ya, I actually had the same problem on my 96 Dodge Ram Cummins Turbo Diesel, it was the battery cables connection to the batteries (had 2 on the truck). Id clean them real good and the posts real good with a battery cleaning tool, tighten them real good, and most importantly, make sure all of the posts have covers over them and that they arent cracked. If you do this and the problem doesnt happen for a couple weeks or so and then happens again, get new cables, thats what I did when I had your exact problem on my truck and knock on wood but havent happen so far in about a year. Also regardless of what shops tell you about the starter for future refrence 9/10 times the solonoid is what goes bad on the starter, much cheaper than replacing the whole starter. Hope this helps and good luck to ya!!

 

Had the same thing happen to me a few weeks ago,turn the key and all the starter would do is make a clunking sound. The solenoid would engage but the starter would'nt turn. After a couple of tries it would catch and roll the engine over. This happened for several days until it just gave out in New Mexico, checked around and was told the same thing, 6-700 hundred buck for a new starter installed. Got a drag start and waited untill I got home to where I bought the truck and had a new starter installed for $450. Of course I've bought two trucks from them so that might have helped with the price. That clucking or clicking your hearing is the solenoid engaging so you know that it's working but the starter it self is worn out. You can do it your self but make sure you have some help to hold the starter in place while you tighten the bolts. That starter gets real heavy fast when your laying on your back holding it up.