I have a starting problem and hope someone with knowledge of a detroit diesel can help.

I have a 1985 Barth Regency with a Detroit Diesel.

I purchased a new engine battery and a battery charger/minder. The charger/minder is keeping the voltage at 12 volts (designed not to over charge) and is working correctly.

When I try to start the engine, the starter spins freely and has a lot of power, however the engine will not start.

The engine will jump start if I pull my Jeep over and let it run several minutes before trying to start it.

When I turn the key to start the engine, and the volt meter shows 13 volts, the engine will start right away.

As I stated above the battery is hot and should start the engine at 12 volts.

Jim

Get the battery load checked with a machine. A fully charged battery should be 13.8.

Marvin,

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll be checking the battery with my multimeter later this afternoon after it's been on the charger/minder.

It may be possible the charger is leveling off at 12 volts because of a battery drain.
It's been off the charger/minder since yesterday and when I checked it with the multimeter about an hour ago, it read 12.9 volts.

Since it was that close it should start without a jump.
The volt reading I gave in my first post were from the voltmeter on the dash.

Still open for other suggestions.

Jim

Marvin,

I checked the battery (after charging it)and it
read 13.10 volts on my multimeter.
Appearently the charger/minder brings it up to full capacity and holds it there.

The engine should start on 13 volts and ,for sure, on 13.10 volts.

Big question...why do I have to jump start it.

Hey! guys - Rusty, Bill NY or anyone with mechanic knowledge on the possible cause.

Jim

Diesels are out of my league, but many have preheater devices when cold starting. Glow plugs,fuel preheaters, block warmers, etc.

Is it possible that while you are jumping it these heaters are operating allowing time for easier cold start after the jump?

I believe the 8.2 has glow plugs. It may require a certain battery voltage to activate them.

Clean the grounds!

quote:

Originally posted by Jim & Barb:
When I try to start the engine, the starter spins freely and has a lot of power, however the engine will not start.

Spins freely, to me at least, means the bendix never engaged. I'm sure, in your case, you're telling me that the starter is cranking over the engine but it will not fire.

Yes - chances are then your shutdown solenoid is starting to fail. The voltage required to pull in the solenoid plunger is less when the engine is cranking so the solenoid stays in the off position. Or perhaps maybe you have weak power going to the solenoid from a corroded or varnished wire or a bad ground for the solenoid. You'll need to take a voltage reading at the plunger while cranking to know for sure.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim & Barb:
The engine will jump start if I pull my Jeep over and let it run several minutes before trying to start it.

Well, now you have another battery to "Help" the voltage stay up. This might be an indication of you needing more reserve power. Possible bad battery in the cranking system will mean that the other battery is being sucked down lower than the solenoid can handle to start. What you have now, with the Jeep hooked to it, is more "reserve capacity" to help you out. Change out the defective battery.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim & Barb:
When I turn the key to start the engine, and the volt meter shows 13 volts, the engine will start right away.

As I stated above the battery is hot and should start the engine at 12 volts.

Not if the voltage to the shutdown solenoid is insufficient to pull in and hold open the shutdown solenoid. Bad battery - weak connections at starter, battery, engine grounds etc... - shutdown solenoid getting ready to fail? - bad voltage minder - key switch not sending enough power down to the shutdown solenoid from a bad ignition relay.

Could be a lot of things - test, don't guess.

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
Clean the grounds!

Always good advice, that.

I go one step farther and run a ground cable from the (cleaned & bare metal) point where the battery ground cable attaches to the block to one of the starter mounting bolts (cleaned & bare under bolt).

Thanks to all.

I guess I'll be checking several areas.

BillNY, yes your right when I said the starter spins freely...what I meant is the engine cranks over freely with a lot of cranking power.

Something else I noticed, once it starts, it will start easily without a jump the rest of the day as long as the engine is some what warm.

Today I jump started it to move it out of the driveway. I parked it down the street and moved it three times during the day without jump starting it. However if I left it overnight(even with the charger/minder on) and attempted to start the engine cool, it will need a jump.

The battery is a new Interstate and it checks out excellent. My Barth only has one large battery for starting and two batteries for the "house".

After reading the response I am leaning toward the shutdown solenoid, however will be checking all the other suggestions.

Now I need to ask "where is the shut down solenoid located".

Thanks again, Jim

Shutdown solenoid sits on top of the gov housing between the left and right head.

Thanks Bill!

From what you are saying I guess I'll have to remove the bedding and pull up the access lid to the engine.

Thanks again, Jim

While under the bed make sure the glow plugs are working. To me all the symptons say glow plugs.

quote:

Originally posted by Gary Carter:
To me all the symptons say glow plugs.

I'm pretty sure that the 8.2L never had glowplugs.

Perhaps you're thinking of the 6.2L? That engine does have glowplugs in it.

Just checked the parts list for an 8.2L DD and glow plugs are listed. They even have an upgrade glow plug kit.