1988 Ford Truck with an Explosive Problem

Poorly-maintained 1988 Ford ‘super duty’ with low-mileage has a battery problem that leads to a no-start condition.

Ford-Trucks.com is a great place for owners to seek help on how to fix problems with their own pickups, but there is so much knowledge on the website that professional mechanics stop in to ask questions of the community. Recently, a mechanic named “Pamela Kerr” posted on FTE‘s forum asking for help with a 1988 Ford Super Duty that came in for a brake job, but it grew into a much larger project.

When the mechanic wanted to find out if the problem being addressed with this 1988 Ford truck was a common one, she turned to FTE and the community was quick to help.

The Introduction

When the OP first posted her thread to the forum, she provided the following information on the situation.

Working on 1988 Ford F-Super Duty. It has 66000 miles, original everything, except those that I have replaced. This started with new calipers, replaced and it went smooth amazingly. However, went to start and it wouldn’t turn over. Tried to start and it blew the solenoid apart (never seen nothing like it). Replaced the solenoid, not only will it not start, when I turned it over the positive battery cable began smoking. I tried jumping the starter directly didn’t turn, so I know I need to replace but what is causing the load down on my battery….I hooked up everything correctly and made sure all contacts are clean…..any ideas please help, I’m getting to the point of beyond my pay grade.

The Community Responds

The first member to offer assistance was “ZombieF150”, who asked some basic questions.

Starter wasn’t seized before you started working on it? meaning it has been a running vehicle? no recent battery replacement? to rule out possibility of terminal being reversed.

The more info we have the better we may be able to noodle out what the problem is. Calipers have nothing to do with starting or not starting.

To which the OP provided this information:

Up until the solenoid blew, yes, the starter worked perfectly. No battery replacement either and no switched cables

And ZombieF150 replied with an array of advice over the course of a few posts.

I would check the fuses, in cab and under hood fuses first, and fusible links possibly. “subford” probably has diagrams and would be better at narrowing it down quicker than I, or maybe “sandymane” can help

If your positive wire is smoking it is possible there is a direct short. Too much resistance in the cable.

Pull your grounds and clean them. the ones coming from the battery,etc, double check your positives also and clean them. wire brush and wd-40 will do a passable job.

The OP also offered some input on how poorly the truck had been maintained for a 1988 with only 66,000 miles.

Thanks, gonna try your suggestions, I am thinking either I have a direct short or possibly a ground not effectively doing its job. To give you an idea of what I am dealing with, the gentleman who owns this vehicle knows nothing of vehicles, I checked the oil and dang near lost it on him, I’ll be changing that too——it’s so burnt and it’s as thick as latex paint and all or most parts are the original 1988 parts, I’ll be paying attention for possible avenues from you and others on the forum. God Bless and pray for me, I got to get it back on the road today.

The Problem is Solved

The good news is that a few hours after posting the initial question to the forum, the OP had figured out the problem.

Well, I got up this morning baffled and came to the forums for aid and I appreciate your help. Turns out it was the battery itself, replaced and she turned right over and thanks for the trick with the sea foam, much appreciated, I am sure I’ll be posting again…he has 4 more and none are at the moment running…..God Bless.

I replaced the solenoid, I believe the one I replaced blew because it was from 1988 and just old. When I replaced the solenoid it then wouldn’t start, which turned out to be the battery.

In the end, the problem ended up being an easier fix than originally expected, but this is a good lesson for those who run into no-start problems to start with the battery and work from there.

Join the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forums now!

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

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