Eating starters

[Lucas602]

2016 1500 with the 3.6 has gone through 4 starters. The shop keeps warranting them. I saw it dead once and tested both voltages. I ran a direct ground to the starter. I pulled the starter and tested it. It popped but didn’t spin. I replaced it and the truck started. Died the next day. What could be causing this?

I lack proper scan tools. But from an elm 327 I saw some weird codes.

 

[Dean2]

Take the dead starters apart and see what has gone on them. There are way too many potential causes. Only way to fix the issue is to identify what is breaking on the starter.

 

[Burla]

It's most likely a bad ground, or bad wire to. You could bypass win to make sure it isn't ignition. Win usually doesn't do this but TIPM's are known too on items TIPM s power.

 

[Burla]

To answer your question a crimped wire in or bad ground can fry the part, had it happen on a costly transfer case. Keep frying transfer case and the cause ended up being someone installed a side step and drilled through a wire to t case, fries the part often on first try.

 

[HarryS]

Are they quality starters?

 

[Lucas602]

Are they quality starters?

Some yes.

Update. There is a ground near the pcm on the passenger side fender. My cousin just wiggled it and got the truck started. We had looked through diagrams and all our problems areas relate to that ground. Misfire which is likely an injector. Hoping it solves the abs module issue also. We are going to cut that ground back and install a new eyelet. And add two new grounds to the block and the body.

 

[Dean2]

Appreciate the update. Hope you have it solved.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

Time for the big three upgrade

Big 3 Ram 1500

Big 3 upgrade for Ram 1500

youtu.be

 

[RamDiver]

Some yes.

Update. There is a ground near the pcm on the passenger side fender. My cousin just wiggled it and got the truck started. We had looked through diagrams and all our problems areas relate to that ground. Misfire which is likely an injector. Hoping it solves the abs module issue also. We are going to cut that ground back and install a new eyelet. And add two new grounds to the block and the body.

While you're at it, check the connections on the large positive wire feeding the starter motor.

If the crimp lugs are not tight on the wire or the connections from the lugs are not clean and snug under the binding posts, this might cause a significant voltage drop.

This voltage drop could result in a lower voltage being fed to the starter motor and potentially a higher-than-designed current draw with excessive internal heating.
Heat is known to damage windings, insulation and bearings.

You may have identified the culprit with the bad ground, but that's only one side of the circuit.
You may as well verify the B+ side too.


The following article discusses this topic with respect to AC motors.

What is the effect of low voltage on an electric motor?

Low voltage can have some effect on the electric motor, depending on the type of motor and its design. Some common effects of low voltage on electric motors are: Reduced performance: Electric motors are designed to operate at a specific voltage range, and when the voltage drops below that range...

btb-electric.com

DC motors behave a bit differently, but AFAIK, they are still subject to potentially higher current when powered with lower voltages.

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