I haven't driven my truck for too long now, and finally decided I just have to get this rolling. I am a newbie here, and looking for some thoughts on what this issue could be. I had been driving it off and on, and one time while fishing I went to start it, it wouldn't start. Tried to jump it with my buddies truck, no go. He whacked gently on what he said was the starter and it started right up. This worked for a while, and eventually it wouldn't start any longer. I assumed it was the starter. I unhooked the batteries, and realized when I got under the truck it wasn't the starter he was thumping. It was farther back behind the wheels as part of the exhaust system. I pulled the starter off, because it was still my assumption it was the starter. I took it in to get tested, and it and the solenoid are perfectly fine. It was running a little rough before it stopped running and has always put out a little grey smoke when started. Any ideas?

 

What kind of truck? What year? What size motor?

When you turn the key nothing happens? No clicks ? No sounds? Any thing? Give some more information please.

Other then that this is the only thing I can think of.

It's either the Starter. Does it make a click when you turn the key? Get a hammer and tap on the starter then turn the key.

It could be the Natural Safety Switch if nothing happens when you turn the key. No sound or clicks of any kind. It's located on the transmission and what it does is it keeps you from cranking the vehicle up in gear.

With more information we can help.

 

Thanks for your reply.

It is a 1997 F-250 Turbo Diesel 7.3L PowerStroke. Right before they changed the body style.

The last time I tried to start it, I let the glow plugs warm up, and it gave a whir whir whir sound, acts like it is thinking about starting, but never gets enough to actually roll over, and then less and less, till just clicks.

I need to recharge my batteries and test this again, because I went straight to taking off the starter and getting it tested after letting it sit for a long time. I can get back to you on this.

Like I said I took the stater off and took it in for tests and it passed all three times they tested it. So, it is not the starter. How do you test the Natural Safety Switch?

Thank you!

 

So the truck DOES turn over?

Not the starter or batteries then

Look at the glow plug relay on top of the engine. These trucks will NOT start with out the glow plugs, even on a 100* day

 

I agree with Brad.

Can you run a diagnostic on it and get the Codes that it's giving? Not sure if that will help but just an idea....

What I would do to test the natural safety switch is to just put the truck in gear and back in park a few times.... Wiggle the shifter around ect...

 

.......... Oops wrong thread....

 

I will take a look at the glow plug relay. Thanks for your thoughts!

 

I don't have the equipment to run diagnostics on it, but maybe a friend does. I will ask him about that. The shifter has always been loose, so maybe this is switching off the Natural Safety? I will look at this too. Thank you!

 

No you cant switch it off...

• Neutral safety switch sends a signal to the on-board computer to allow the engine to start and to engage the transmission
• When not replaced, vehicle may experience no start and/or transmission will not shift out of park

How to read a check engine light code on a Ford 1983-1995 EEC 4 system - YouTube

 

Thanks for the explanation!

 

Your truck is a 1997 so it's probably OBD-II

I would get a scanner and plug it in and actually scan to get the codes.

That you-tube picture is something I just found one day when surfing the web. I have never tried it and no clue even it it will work.

 

Thank you all for your two cents... Ok, so I took the starter off (again) this morning, took it to NAPA to buy a new starter. The employee asked me a hundred questions, and his recommendation was to take the starter to electronic specialists to see if it was the starter was good at all, or if it could be the solenoid. I took it to the specialist and he physically looked at the starter/solenoid and said a part is burned out. He tested the solenoid was burned out, and the starter looked great. He replaced it and I pick it up tomorrow morning. Will give you an update of how this works. Hopefully it is the solution!Thank you all for your two cents... Ok, so I took the starter off (again) this morning, took it to NAPA to buy a new starter. The employee asked me a hundred questions, and his recommendation was to take the starter to electronic specialists to see if it was the starter was good at all, or if it could be the solenoid. I took it to the specialist and he physically looked at the starter/solenoid and said a part is burned out. He tested the solenoid was burned out, and the starter looked great. He replaced it and I pick it up tomorrow morning. Will give you an update of how this works. Hopefully it is the solution!

 

not sure why it posted twice...oops!

 

Make sure you let the starter cool down after cranking it for a while or your just going to keep burning them up. Are you getting fuel?

 

I picked up the starter with new solenoid today and put it on. It fired right up! That was all it was all along...a shorted out solenoid! I took the truck to the car wash, cleaned it up and took some photos. As sad as I am to part with this beast, I need to make some cash, being a sculptor is not always the best paying gig.

Thank you all for taking the time to make suggestions and for helping point me in the right direction! I wish I could say I would good at making recommendations back, but at this point I am still just learning. I am better at making things than fixing them currently.

If you need art consulting, art production, fabricating or manufacturing questions, or just questions about art in general, I can help you out.

Thank you again!
Darin
http://darinwhite.com