2004 F-150 hertitage:
12 degrees F yesterday. clicked (firewall solenoid) but starter was not pulling amps. After putting a jumper pack on it, after about 30-40 clicks it took off, never to work again.....towed it home with a rope.

2000 F-250 Super Duty:
7 degrees F today, did the same except you could tell the starter was pulling amps. Took alot of clicks and enguaged but I let off too quick, another bunch of clicks and it started. Once I moved it, I tried it a bunch more and it seemed to work, however I do not trust it.

2001 Crown Victoria:
7 degrees F today, the first turn of the key was nothing but a click, and the 2nd turn it worked fine. After moving it worked a bunch more times.

Whats up with the cold temps and the starters? Any ideas?

 

I'm a little confused. Do you honestly believe you have three faulty starters in three separate vehicles at the same time? Seven degrees has a LOT to do with it. Batteries don't like that. How old are the batteries in each vehicle? Are they driven regularly? Put a charger on one of those batteries and give it a proper charge. Then tell us if the solenoid still clicks. Those booster packs are great little tools, but they just don't have the same effect as a good set of booster cables hooked to a good battery when it's seven degrees outside.

 

Batteries are good. Connections are good. Jumping the terminals on the solenoid did not correct the problem either. A charger does not help the situation on F-150.

The crown vic I did not charge / jump as on the second try cranked over.

I am thinking moisture inside the bendix coil causing the plunger to stick. Or the grease is too thick on the plunger.

 

I would agree with that... also I have seen moisture build up in the starter nose cone and the shaft will freeze in the nose cone and break the nose cone

 

My starter bit the dust this morning to.
If something is close to failing, this weather
will push it over the edge
Not playing with this, picked up a new one

I seem to remember saying how great my truck starts
on another thread yesterday

 

I had not changed a starte in 20 years untill 2 weeks ago. 2002 EXP and then 1996 EXP both failed within a week.. 12 years or older and 165K miles ?? I had a 2001 withe 250K miles and never needed a starter.. but this make me start thinking of age and number of starts, and not milage ??

 

Don't forget to replace cables including ground and ensure a good ground connection because internal corrosion (even down heah in sunny South Cackalackie) can reduce power to the starter considerably.

If I get a truck with considerable use/age the cables go in the trash when I get it home and all bolts and larger connections get a dab of anti-seize. That tactic has served me well for decades.

I keep quality jumper cables and a hot-start charger because a weak boost can overheat a starter motor while being insufficient to crank the engine. Load testers are cheap at auto stores and my preferred way to check batteries.

 

I agree , probably green under the casing.

 

Update:

The 04' heritage had a bad bendix solenoid on the starter. It appears water got into it where the plastic terminal cap is crimped on. On the other side where the gasket is, there was no sign of water intrusion. So why does this happen? I thought it was supposed to be sealed on the terminal end....... The entire starter was replaced, but being the motor is good,I wonder if I can source just the bendix solenoid.

The 01 crown vic and 00 F-250 are still working strong and pass the amp draw test just fine. So I will wait until they die.

 

So......does anyone know where to get just a bendix solenoid?

 

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