I have a 2007 NCV3 w/ 67k and intermittent no start issue. Weekend van shared with buddy. Drove for a month recently to see if permanent van life is for me, no problems with starting. Then this weekend a no start event after driving ~100 miles on highway.
Tried to jump start to no avail. Buddy climbs under to tap on starter (for which I have since read is not a good idea with Sprinters based on starter type). Nothing. I shift to neutral guessing it might be some safety interlock issue. Van rolls backward against curb. Van then magically starts.
Drive another ~100 miles of highway, then same no start on next attempt. I crawl under and notice a jenky looking cable connecting the alternator and starter, crossing under the oil pan (attached). Looks like a 2nd grader wrapped heat shield around it. Also notice yellow butt connector hanging from starter...remember a previous owner at some point had a wheel chair lift (based on info from guy I bought it from, and holes near slider door).
Then I noticed the jenky looking heat shield wrapped wire occasionally sparking. This can't be good. Jiggled it around a bit to keep it from metal, and she started right up.
So...is this the infamous y cable I have spent a couple hours on this forum reading about? Or is this some crappy hack job from when the wheel chair lift equipment was removed? Does the factory y cable routing clip to engine anywhere or just hang out like mine?
I plan to go through all the voltage check protocol so well laid out in previous posts, however figured I would start with something obvious like a sparking wire.
This Sprinter newbie thanks you in advance for any and all advise!
Tried to jump start to no avail. Buddy climbs under to tap on starter (for which I have since read is not a good idea with Sprinters based on starter type). Nothing. I shift to neutral guessing it might be some safety interlock issue. Van rolls backward against curb. Van then magically starts.
Drive another ~100 miles of highway, then same no start on next attempt. I crawl under and notice a jenky looking cable connecting the alternator and starter, crossing under the oil pan (attached). Looks like a 2nd grader wrapped heat shield around it. Also notice yellow butt connector hanging from starter...remember a previous owner at some point had a wheel chair lift (based on info from guy I bought it from, and holes near slider door).
Then I noticed the jenky looking heat shield wrapped wire occasionally sparking. This can't be good. Jiggled it around a bit to keep it from metal, and she started right up.
So...is this the infamous y cable I have spent a couple hours on this forum reading about? Or is this some crappy hack job from when the wheel chair lift equipment was removed? Does the factory y cable routing clip to engine anywhere or just hang out like mine?
I plan to go through all the voltage check protocol so well laid out in previous posts, however figured I would start with something obvious like a sparking wire.
This Sprinter newbie thanks you in advance for any and all advise!
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