HELP
There are some pretty sharp guys on this forum, F250Restorer, 6 CylBill, Baron Von Automatic, FMC 300.......just to name a few. Listen to the these kinda guys. They're pretty sharp and a lot of others too.
When I read you bought a starter I wanted to cringe. Ask questions ! NOTHING is a dumb question. Wait a day (or less) and you'll probably get a damned good answer from several people. You may have wasted you cash on a starter I think. Also.........give details, LOTS of details. I'll try to help you more but in my first reply I didn't realize that issue was occurring without you trying to crank it. That's a whole new ball park and I think I may, or others have an answer but give us DETAILS. Good Luck bud !
There should be 4 terminals on your starter relay. 2 (the big ones on the sides) are connected to and from your positive battery cable. The other 2 (much smaller and in the front of the relay) have "push on" type connections, one wire on each terminal. Pull off the one towards the front of the truck and just leave it dangle. Then use a screwdriver and put it across the positive terminal (the big one in front) and the little one you just pulled the wire off of. Be prepared because it can startle you but nothing bad will happen as long as the key is OFF and your in park or neutral with the brakes set.
What will (should happen) is the when you do that the starter will engage and crank the motor.
If that happens.....and it should....your relay (solenoid) is just fine. After that, and if doing that cranks your motor....I would guess that your ignition switch is bad or shorted. good luck Kyle. Mike
Last edited by McYondan; Feb 23, 2011 at 10:32 AM. Reason: wrong information
I'm laughing my butt off here Bill..........oops maybe I shouldn't use that word since I live in California. Still laughing so hard brought tears to my eyes. Where the hell you at anyway Bill. Must be from the deep south. hahahaha.
I'm laughing my butt off here Bill..........oops maybe I shouldn't use that word since I live in California. Still laughing so hard brought tears to my eyes. Where the hell you at anyway Bill. Must be from the deep south. hahahaha.

You know, maybe it's sad but I really do talk like that.
Yahsir I'm from Southeast Texas, spitting distance from LA near the gulf.
How are you liking Cali? I bet you're glad you don't have to put up with all the snow the rest of the country has been drowning in.
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Last time the starter cable got grounded and burned out. I chewed up two solenoids before I found it. Other times I just got bum replacements. It's usual on Ford trucks.
i hope that is enough detail i cant really explain it much better
i hope that is enough detail i cant really explain it much better
If I understand you correctly and the ignition switch the key DOES return to RUN when you release the pressure from the CRANK position. Right? I agree with the other folks, your switch is probably just fine. You have a solenoid or relay problem here.
Disconnect the battery cable to the starter and secure it somewhere it wont touch a ground (it's the pos cable and you dont need the fireworks) Pull the coil wire so your engine wont start.
Stand next to the relay on the fender-well and put you hand on it and listen. Have a friend turn the key to CRANK and then release it to RUN. It should click pretty loud and you'll feel it. If that happens, try it many times...then you have a starter soilenoid (bendix) thats hanging up. It can be replsced without having to buy a whole starter motor. It may be a mechanical hang up too so you may end up needing a whole starter. lemme know what happens?
If you get really fed-up and need some more detailed help or advice you can e-nail me at charlsonmk@gmail.com and I could send some diagrams and explain this in more detail without having to post a 'book' here in the forum. Good luck Dude !
Last edited by McYondan; Feb 23, 2011 at 10:11 AM. Reason: ommision

You know, maybe it's sad but I really do talk like that.
Yahsir I'm from Southeast Texas, spitting distance from LA near the gulf.
How are you liking Cali? I bet you're glad you don't have to put up with all the snow the rest of the country has been drowning in.

Seriously I HATE California, especially when it comes to parts and stuff. Originally, I'm an Indiana farm boy. Back there you could at least get some good carb-dip......stuff that would take the meat off your bones. Here with all the regulations & restrictions CA has, you could probably drink the carb cleaner. Aint worth a damn. Same with carb and choke spray, brake clean, on and on.......
Hell no I don't miss the snow though. Oh but ol' Big Red isnt air-conditioned and the windows aren't titnted so it's like driving around in a terrarium all day in the summer.

Seriously I HATE California, especially when it comes to parts and stuff. Originally, I'm an Indiana farm boy. Back there you could at least get some good carb-dip......stuff that would take the meat off your bones. Here with all the regulations & restrictions CA has, you could probably drink the carb cleaner. Aint worth a damn. Same with carb and choke spray, brake clean, on and on.......
Hell no I don't miss the snow though. Oh but ol' Big Red isnt air-conditioned and the windows aren't titnted so it's like driving around in a terrarium all day in the summer.
I know what you're saying. I don't like what I've heard about Cali as far as automotives go. I want to be able to do what I want to my truck, you know? Stupid auto-****'s.
(Just for the record I don't actually wear belt buckles LOL)


