Phoenix222

Hi guys so I drove down the street the car started fine on the way to an appointment then I go to leave and nothing. It wouldn't even crank with a jump box so I put a new battery I had in and same thing. All lights are on on the dash. My only guesses are a fuse or relay which I'm checking momentarily, I have an oil leak that may be dripping on the starter is my second guess and 3rd it's this ESL fail problem I keep reading about. I do have an esl emulator box on it that was put on before I got the car. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Phoenix222

Also when I put the key in the ignition I can hear the ESL move. I checked the fuses and all related are good. Also all red and yellow dash lights are on

alynch

If the fuses and relays check out, your second guess is likely the culprit. Your symptoms were similar to my experience. One minute, the car starts; the next minute, nothing. The key is that you hear the ESL move, and all the dash lights are on, so the security system start permissive is good. Remove the start relay in the front SAM and use a fused jumper wire to bump the starter. If there is no movement, then the starter is the problem. The good news is that it's a simple swap.

Phoenix222

That is hugely helpful. I did the jump on the relay yesterday and nothing happened but it was with a crappy wire and I didn't have the fuse plugs on the ends of the wire, I just smashed the ends so they were flat. I'm going redo that today with the fuse plugs connected to the wire but since that first one didn't work I'm really thinking it's the starter. Thank you so much for the reply!

antboii

@Phoenix222 hey, Did you try tapping on the starter while cranking to see if it would start? I've had to use that truck on my 2nd Gen Cummins to get home before.. The oil leak likely killed your starter which it sounds like that is your main problem. I'm not familiar with the ESL issue. My oil filter housing was leaking onto my starter as well and I replacedthe OFH gasket and my leak was fixed. I believe I saved my starter by stopping that leak.

alynch

lol! I tried that trick from my old Chevrolet days, but no-go. At a minimum, I think the oil filter housing leak killed the solenoid since I didn't even hear the click. Fix the leak while you are in there to prolong the life of the new starter. You have to remove the starter anyway to replace the oil filter housing gasket (I wish it were like the M276 with the filter housing on the front).

antboii

I agree @alynch ! The oil leak likely killed Phoenix starter. The OFH is right above the starter and leaks right on to it.

Would of been nice if MB thought that placement through lol


Ant

Phoenix222

That's was my thought ill just replace the OFH. I was going to do the gasket but I noticed a crack in the OFH while I was under the car looking at the starter so I'll just replace the whole thing. Also I did try hitting the starter a little but it didn't even make a sound. I got a click a couple times when trying with the new battery in but then nothing after that.