1978 electrical problem, will not start
 

Hello,

I just purchased a 1978 F250 Ranger Lariat, AT, A/C, Cruise, Tilt, 460.:-jammin
It has a few problems. I just drove it a couple miles to my buddies place, and now it will not even engage the starter.

The lights work, but do not dim when i turn the key. I tried to jump it, but not even a click from the solenoid. I checked the connections, they are all good.

Now my wife is giving me a really hard time about the truck I bought that stranded me on its first trip from the house. :-X19

I would greatly appreciate any ideas.

:-X16

Take the wire of the "S" post on the starter relay and put a test light on it. If it is not getting power then it is somewhere in the ignition switch or wires. If it is getting power then the relay may be bad. Start there

Don't rule out a faulty NSS (neutral safety switch) try "jiggling" around the shifter while starting the truck...

Or better yet just temporarily bypass the NSS (after you rule out the solenoid and ignition switch).

Agreed with all the advice above.

Try tapping on the starter and solenoid with the key turned to start just to see maybe if that is seizing up

I ran a wire from pos battery terminal to srarter post on solenoid with key turned and it did turn over. So does that mean a bad solenoid?

Aside from that being very dangerous (heavy inductive load that could spark near a battery), no, it does not tell you if you have a bad solenoid yet.

Either the solenoid is bad, or it's not getting a trigger signal. You need to check for power getting to the 'S' post first as Redtires019 describes above. Why ask for advice if you're just going to do your own thing anyway?

I did all of that yesterday before I asked. I just wanted to put out all of the info I had. I have not been able to check the truck since yesterday. It is still at my friends house.

Since it sounds like you have done some other diagnosis that was not listed in your original post, please list out all the things you have checked.

You're saying you have verified that 12 volts is getting to the 'S' post of the solenoid with the key in START?

Yesterday I ran a jumper to the starter just to make sure it wasn't stuck. I have not yet done any other diagnosis since it is parked at my friend's house and i didnt have my tools. I will be heading over there soon and use the advice i have been given so far and will report back. Thank you all

The s pole on the solenoid does not get power, with key on or start position

That's your problem then. This has nothing to do with the starter solenoid. The problem is with the ignition switch, or the wiring in between. With the key in START, the RED with BLUE stripe wire that leaves the ignition switch and goes to the 'S' post of the solenoid should have power.

Applying power to the 'S' post of the solenoid is what actually makes it close. The solenoid will never engage without this.

Thank you all for your help, I had to hotwire it to get it home and out of his driveway. I checked out the wiring behind the ignition switch and it is a mess. The previous owner had spliced in multiple places. I really appreciate all of the input. I will pick up a new switch and do some wire repairs later this week or weekend.:-X03

No problem, best of luck. :-X22