Toasted Starter

I tried to start my 97' Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel 2500 early morning, the outside temp gauge read 10 degrees, I was parked on the street and didn't have the block heater plugged in. I tried 3 times to start it and it didn't start. The 4th time I gave it some gas and it started, but sounded usually loud and rough and was making a high pitched whining sound. I turned the engine off right away and took out the key, but it keep running. I smelled burning wires so I opened the hood and white smoke was coming out near the starter. I moved the truck off the street into my driveway and finally after 20 min it shut down. When I went to start it again I only heard the click of the solinod. I tried jumping it and charging the battery and tested the battery with a volt meter which read 12.26 and went down to 11.91 with the head lights on. I removed the starter and it smelled burnt and I took it to the shop and they said it was fried. They also said that the reason was probably battery problems and that the connectors in the starter welded shut because of low voltage. and they said that whenever a starter goes on a diesel you have to replace the batteries as well or else you'll just fry the new starter. This low voltage thing sounded kinda funny to me so I asked around and noone seemed to have heard about it, so what I want to know is if this guy is just blowing smoke up my a and trying to sell his batteries for $90 a piece and what do you think is the actual cause of the fried starter? Also I tried push starting it in 3rd and 4th with no luck, heard the engine turning but nothing else. Was wondering if the diesel could have gelled and does it reliqiufy after warming up? Also the outside temp readout in the cab no longer works since the incident, but all other electrics work. Thank you so much for all your help.

Yes,it will. A high amp/low voltage draw will weld the solonoid connections together. 11.9 with headlites on is bad. Buy 2 batteries.As far as the push start thing-THINK-you turn the truck on and off with the key-if you don't have the juice to activate the electronics-the pump doesn't turn-no start.Hope this helps.

If there is good battery voltage then your manifold heater could have given up, because push starting in 3rd, always works on my trucks, 2 fords and a dodge as long as the glow systems are working.