Emissions Control - Dodge RAM 1500 1998 Owner's Manual

8F - 26 STARTING
STARTING
DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - STARTING
SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
SPECIFICATIONS
STARTING SYSTEM
SPECIFICATIONS - TORQUE - STARTING
SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
STARTER MOTOR
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - STARTER
MOTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
STARTING
DESCRIPTION
The starting system consists of:
• Starter relay
• Starter motor (including an integral starter sole-
noid)
Other components to be considered as part of start-
ing system are:
• Battery
• Battery cables
• Ignition switch and key lock cylinder
• Clutch pedal position switch (manual transmis-
sion)
• Park/neutral position switch (automatic trans-
mission)
• Wire harnesses and connections.
The Battery, Starting, and Charging systems oper-
ate in conjunction with one another, and must be
tested as a complete system. For correct operation of
starting/charging systems, all components used in
these 3 systems must perform within specifications.
When attempting to diagnose any of these systems, it
is important that you keep their interdependency in
mind.
The diagnostic procedures used in each of these
groups include the most basic conventional diagnostic
methods, to the more sophisticated On-Board Diag-
nostics (OBD) built into the Powertrain Control Mod-
ule (PCM). Use of an induction-type milliampere
ammeter, volt/ohmmeter, battery charger, carbon pile
rheostat (load tester), and 12-volt test lamp may be
required.
STARTING
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
STARTER MOTOR RELAY
DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - STARTER RELAY . 36
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Certain starting system components are monitored
by the PCM and may produce a Diagnostic Trouble
Code (DTC). Refer to Diagnostic Trouble Codes in
Emission Control for a list of codes.
OPERATION
The starting system components form two separate
circuits. A high-amperage feed circuit that feeds the
starter motor between 150 and 350 amperes (700
amperes - diesel engine), and a low-amperage control
circuit that operates on less than 20 amperes. The
high-amperage feed circuit components include the
battery, the battery cables, the contact disc portion of
the starter solenoid, and the starter motor. The low-
amperage control circuit components include the igni-
tion switch, the clutch pedal position switch (manual
transmission), the park/neutral position switch (auto-
matic transmission), the starter relay, the electro-
magnetic windings of the starter solenoid, and the
connecting wire harness components.
If the vehicle is equipped with a manual transmis-
sion, it has a clutch pedal position switch installed in
series between the ignition switch and the coil bat-
tery terminal of the starter relay. This normally open
switch prevents the starter relay from being ener-
gized when the ignition switch is turned to the Start
position, unless the clutch pedal is depressed. This
feature prevents starter motor operation while the
clutch disc and the flywheel are engaged. The starter
relay coil ground terminal is always grounded on
vehicles with a manual transmission.
DR
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