I am having trouble getting my 96 Dodge 2500 with the Cummins started. I can pull up the selenoid and it will start right up. I took it out and cleaned the piston up good and put it back in, still the same. I am going to buy one tomorrow, but would like to know if there is a way to check and see if that is what's wrong. When I turn the key and bump the starter I can push it up and it will stay, in fact I can't pull it back down. It takes two or three attempts to start it if I don't pull it up. Is there anything else that I can check, someone said there is a relay, but I don't know where that is.





Any help appreciated.


Thanks,


Bob

There is two relays on the firewall right above the brake booster that sometimes go bad and won't allow the solonoid to pull up It could be them being bad but first check the wires on the drivers side battery remove and clean them to make sure you are getting good contact. It is very rare that the solonoid goes bad but real common for the relays and cables to give problems. I posted this on your othe question.

Hi Elkhunter,


I forgot that I had asked that questions already, I now see it down a couple of posts. I checked the battery connections and they are cleaned up. I took the fuel shutoff selenoid out and cleaned it. The rubber boot was shot, if it turns out OK I will have to find something to replace it. Is there any way to check the relays or just replace them. The engine will start from time to time usually the first thing in the morning, but after that it make take 3 times to start. I now get out and pull if up if it doesn't fire up on the second attempt.





Thanks,


Bob

Bob I cannot stress enough to check and clean the cables remove them and take a file to them and clean them good. The solonoid cost is about $400.00 the relay cost is around $40.00 check and makeing sure the cables are clean is free and usually the problem. You can make a boot from a bike innertube. Matt