I replaced the batter on my '95 F250 with a 351. Ran and started fine before, now it will not start. all of the accessories and everything work fine, fuel pump kicks on, but nothing when I turn the key, not even a click. I checked the starter solenoid on the fender wall, and thats putting out plenty of voltage under load to fire the starter. I checked the relays and fuses, and those are also good. I did, however, find a ground strap that is connected to the passenger side firewall, and the other end was just hanging down. I am thinking perhaps I jiggled it loose when I was messing with the battery cables and thats the problem? anyone happen to know where thats supposed to be connected to? if thats not the problem, any ideas where I should go from here?

 

Did you check the ignition wire leading to your starter selinoid to verify that it was putting power to the selinoid? What transmission do you have, this will also help in diagnoising the issue. As for the ground strap I am not sure, do you have a picture of it?

 

I suppose I could take a picture of it.....kinda dark out now though. My truck has an automatic

 

Someone else posted this picture....this is the one I am talking about. Would this being disconnected cause it not to start though?

http://rjackson.us/matt/losewire.jpg

 

It wouldnt hurt to have it attached to either the bellhousing or a bolt on the upper intake manifold. I dont think it would be enough to create a no start but I have been wrong before.

I would verify that power is getting across the selinoid by trying to jump it across the battery and ignition switch posts. You can jump it between the battery and starter but that will be alot of juice flowing and welding things together.

 

I just went out and looked. The strap on my 92' goes from the firewall to a bracket on the side of the engine that supports 2 of the egr lines. My negative terminal also has an extra cable that is attached to the body right beside the battery.

 

The ground strap goes to any good ground on the engine.

Make sure the large NEG cable from the battery has a good ground on the engine block (not the frame) or it can burn the ground strap off.
There is a lug bolted on the frame on this cable about half way to the engine but this is just a ground if you are pulling a trailer.

Sounds like you have a bad spade connector down on the starter if you have a good engine block ground.
Just cut back about one inch of wire, strip it and crimp on a new spade connector..


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On my truck (92) that wire goes from the firewall as yours does, to a stud on the manifold.

 

I would check all your grounds as well, my truck many of them are rusted off or corroded so bad I'm sure they are not making a good connection.