starter relay

ford2002f150 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-15-2008, 03:48 PM

hey, im back again. having all sorts of problems.

anyways, i did a long a drive today. pull over for some gas after only about 200 miles. after im done, i go to start my truck (02 f150 v6), and nothing happens. no clicking no nothing. hoping its just the battery i ask some guy to give me a jump. nothing happens. no clicking no nothing. so some other guy comes over and takes a screwdriver, connects two terminals, and the truck starts up as if nothing was wrong. the guy said "hey your battery is fine. your starter is fine. sometimes you just lose connection. this is just another way to crank the motor. you got no worries." well i make it to where im going and the truck has been starting up no problem since then.

now im reading through some haynes manual about starters and after scrolling down i see... "If the starter motor still doesn't operate, bridge the two large terminals on the relay with a screwdriver. If the starter now works, replace the relay." but it doesnt say much else like why this happened or whats wrong with the relay or anything.

so... is this something that i should worry about? or if i just carry a screwdriver with me from now ill be fine?

thanks a bunch!

Bobby82490 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-15-2008, 04:13 PM

Sounds like you need to replace the solonoid(relay) on the firewall.

KingRanchMan02 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-15-2008, 04:37 PM

You need to replace the relay most likely. The starter relay has three wires. One is from the battery(red), one to the starter (red), and the other(tan/red) is from a fuse (hot in start, F21) in the central junction box via the digital transmission range sensor. If you have no voltage out to the starter then check to insure that the tan/red wire is hot in start. If not, then troubleshoot back to the fuse and the DTR sensor. If this is good and there is no voltage on the red wire to the starter then replace the starter relay.

Good luck!

projectSHO89 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-15-2008, 06:03 PM

I don't think a screwdriver can jumper the two big terminals - that takes a large pair of pliers.

If it was only a screwdriver, he probably jumpered the HOT to the S terminal of the relay. If so, you have a problem in the small wire circuit that KRM talked about (key switch, CPP/DTR, etc).

Advise if there is an aftermarket starter interrupt or alarm installed...

Steve