460 engine. It's been setting all winter and I just charged the engine battery. I have to try to start it 4 or 5 times before the starter engages. Then it starts fine.

 

so when you turn the key over nothing happens hmmm key switch maybe

 

We need more details....... Does the starter spin but not turning the engine? Or does it just click?

 

The first few times it just clicks,( no movement of the starter) it doesn't seem to be getting current, then the starter turns and starts

 

Sounds like corrosion and/or rust,,,,,

Clean the battery cable ends, (BOTH ends!!!)

Make sure all the connections at the solenoid are clean and tight.

 

Most of the time it is the starter relay under the dog house on the drivers side.

 

Thanks for your responses. I think it's the relay. When I hold my hand on the relay while my wife turns on the key and it clicks, I can feel it pulse.
It's mighty close quarters to get at it. If I can get a fairly detailed picture
of it, It might be easier to remove it. Or, I might look at one in a parts store. Would the part number for this be the same as one for the Ford truck?

 

Yes they are the same. I got ready to leave a RV park one day and it would just click. I took out my test light and I probed both sides of the relay when I turn the key. It would click but the side going to the starter solenoid did not light the test light.
So I had one with me from a 1995 F-150 truck that I striped and I put it on and the engine started right up.

I took it apart when I got home and the contacts looked like this:




The one still mounted on the F150:



/

 

I picked up a new relay ( labeled solenoid). Now I need to remove the old one. One of the studs with nut look and feel like they are totally covered with rubber or coating. How do I remove this??

 

It just pulls off and then you push it on the new one after you put the wires and nut on the stud.

 

Well, I finally installed the new relay, but apparently incorrectly.
When I start it, it starts,but the moment I release the pressure on the key it kills!
There are 4 wires which I've attached to the relay. I'm assuming that they are not attached to the correct studs.
Can you give me some ideas on this?

 

A single wire goes to the starter, all the small ones with the ring ends go on with the one from the battery...

 

Thanks White 97 xlt: I moved all the wires, except the starter wire to the battery stud and it works great.
Thanks a million