Fuel shutoff solenoid...$$$
 

So, found out yesterday with a cranking no start out of nowhere that my fuel shutoff solenoid is going. Popping the hood to lift the plunger every time I start it is going to get old quick, so I've started shopping around. Holy crap! $428 on RockAuto, $550something at NAPA. I'd have called the dealer first, but their parts dept. is closed on Saturdays. Based on those prices, Chrysler probably wants $750 for it. So I'm wondering, does anyone know any tricks to clean or rebuild this thing? I mean, I'll do what I have to do, but still. Seems a little ridiculous, no?

Garrett at pure diesel power carries a cheaper one. 99% of all diesel performance vendors buy from 2 major vendors both of which sell one that you could buy for 270 and the vendor could still make good money. 1 year warranty.

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Excellent, thanks! I never thought to ask in the Armory either. Hm.

Genos Garage has them $110

'94-'98 Dodge Turbo Diesel Fuel Shutoff Solenoid-Geno's Garage

I got one from them a couple of years ago and still have not put it on. Thanks for the reminder! Now where did I put that box!? :humm:

Man, I love this forum!

:c:

$10 for a choke cable :humm:

Interesting thought. I generally like things to work as they were intended, when I like how they were intended to work. That sounds like a royal PITA, but it sure would get you out of a jamb. Hm...

The electric selonoid is just a creature comfort, they have been shut off in heavy equipment forever with pull levers. I understand what you're sayin about things working as intended but I'd have to think twice before shellin out 400 for a selonoid. :c:

I appreciate the opinion, but I have enough to remember when starting and stopping the truck as it is. More importantly, I'm lazy. I opted to shell out $110.00 at Geno's garage. Belatedly though, I find myself wondering, is there a relay somewhere that I could have checked first?

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Oh! Also. I just removed my fuel plate. First drive, everything went fine... until I went to turn it off. And it kept running. Coincidence? Or is this just another symptom of a bad solenoid?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/94-98-5-9L-DODGE-DIESEL-STRONGER-FUEL-SHUT-OFF-Solenoid-/200590326261?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2eb41d79f5

Did you remove the shutoff or just push it aside to pull the plate sometimes they'll bind and not go back down. Its more common that it won't start with a failed solenoid.

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I just pushed it aside. It only did it that once (had to turn the key all the way back to accessory to kill it), but it's shut off fine ever since for the rest of the day. Still have to push it up to start it though. Well, at least until the new one gets here.

So, update: the new one (from Geno's) got here. Still didn't start, apparently that wasn't the issue. The fuel shutoff relay was, however, and Geno's was nice enough to include one with the solenoid. Plugged it in, and wala! Back in business. So, essentially, $125 for a $14 relay. Anyway, it worked great for about two days, then quit. Turns out it was two days of rain, and when I lifted the hood the water ran off the backside and all over the relay, shorting it out. So I dried the plug out, cleaned it up, and got a relay from NAPA ($60) which came in the protective housing like the OEM one was, not just the naked cube like the one from Geno's. Back in business again. Worked great for a few more days, thought I was out of the woods.

Not so fast! Now, whether or not it will start without having to pop the hood and lift the solenoid leg is a crap shoot. Cold, first thing in the morning, it starts every time. Once it's been driven awhile though, all bets are off. Sometimes it starts and runs normal, but just over half the time it fires up and immediately dies and I have to pop the hood and lift the solenoid leg. Extremely annoying, since I drive for a living and probably start this truck 20-30 times on a slow day.

Solenoid works smoothly, everything straight and nothing sticking. Unplugging the relay and putting a multimeter on the plug shows 12V when I crank the key. I have not tried getting another relay yet to see if it's the issue, but I feel like I've spent enough that I didn't need to already, throwing money at it to see if the problem goes away isn't turning me on anymore.

It's very odd to me how when it fails, it doesn't just do nothing. It's like it turns the fuel on and then shuts it back off the second it starts. No, Tiremann, I'm still not ready to rig up a choke cable. That said, it's starting to look better and better...

So, anyone have any ideas?

Next time it starts and dies try cranking it again but this time give it a little fuel. That's what I had to do when mine was acting up.

I always crack the throttle to start it. I've tried giving it more, but it just dies too fast.

You could get a pet gnome to ride around under the hood a work the lever :w2:

Yeah... he could thump an SOS on the firewall every time the fuel system springs a leak so I know to pull over and pop the hood :rolleyes2:

OK, I'm tired of fighting with this damn thing. I've tried every brand of relay, tightened up the solenoid arm as far as it will go, shimmed it up off the bracket three times. It works for a little while, then starts acting up again. I think it's just a POS solenoid. Tireman, if you're still around, I'm ready to talk about a choke cable now. :argh:

i had the fuel pump shutoff go bad on my cummins about 5 years ago, i have a number somewhere from when i replaced mine, if i remember right, i only paid 140 with shipping, the number i got was off the side of the original shutoff if i can find it i will post it here

I haven't deleted it yet, but I bought the cable. This is the beautifully simple arrangement I'm considering:

Manual fuel shut off!! - Competition Diesel.Com - Bringing The BEST Together

go on ebay i bought a few cheapo china ones for 50 bux a piece been in the truck for over a year no problems and have an extra just in case!

I'm pretty sure that my problem isn't simply the solenoid, and I'm not in the mood to continue fighting with it. I start my truck at least 20 times a day. One less piece of electronics on my truck sounds good to me.

yeah i totaly agree.. it could also be as simple as the blue wire to the battery terminal over time they become all SH***ed up and dont make good contact .. my other truck had that issue was as easy as a snip and peal to get some new copper and it work'd fine ever since.. but a pull cable would def get rid of all your problems for now and forever!:tu: