1988 f250 351 5 speed overdrive, 2wd. I bought this truck brand new and have taken care of it. Any problems I have fixed them with Ford parts and have a mechanical background.

The problem: Starter goes out, I replace it. The truck is off, locked and I am inside the house with keys. It starts turning over by itself (luckily I was in neutral). I replace starter, solenoid, key ignition switch (the one on the column under dash) replace starter wire. Works fine for about 8 months,

Then today I am inside the house, truck is off, locked, I have the keys and it starts turning over and its in reverse! backing up until it hit my brothers truck behind me.

So I have removed every wire off the solenoid, except battery and the small wire to the stater, unplugged clutch switch, and as soon as I touch the large gauge wire to the solenoid, it starts turning.

Has anyone run into this issue!

 

Unhook the battery. If it still does it, call a Priest......

 

I am on another forum called The Truckers Report. They have a "Thanks" button. FTE does not, however I need to comment on blkfordsedan for that response because it made me laugh.

As for an answer to your question, Ed2, I have no idea other than the solenoid which you have replaced with the same outcome months later. Interesting nonetheless.

 

I would replace ALL the wiring that has anything to with the starter, it's possible there is a short to ground...

 

Wait, if it's a 5 speed, how'd it start cranking? It would have to have the clutch and brake depressed.....

 

That is exactly right. You need to first look at your neutral safety switch's wiring, harness, and body. I'm not sure where on your transmission it would be, but it won't be hard to find out on this forum. Check that and then check your clutch pedal for any switches or linkages. If there are no issues there you need to get creative and try to pull codes. There may just not be any, but it sounds like you've got a ground problem in your starting circuit as well as a failing neutral safety switch.

 

The nuetral saftey switch on the 88 atleast on my f150, is bolted right to the clucth pedal assymbley.

 

If that's where it is, I would absolutely check there first. There is a lot of driver input at the clutch pedal so failure is to be expected eventually.