Hello im new to this forum, but I joined because recently I have been having some trouble with my 89 f150 xlt lariat with a 4.9 inline six. When I first purchased the truck I got it home and cut it off, right after I shut it off I went to start it back up because I wanted to move it out the way and it acted like I didnt want to turn over, it made that clicking noise which made me think the battery was going. It ran strong until one day as I was on my way home it sputtered out on me at the end of my road. I tried starting it back up but it would barely turn over. So I waited a little while and cranked it again and it would act like it want to start for a second but just kept dieing. As I tried to start it again, I noticed smoke coming from the two small ground wires on the negative battery cable for the starter and alternator. I started looking at the wires and saw that they had been resolderd, and had burned up where they were resolderd. A neighbor tried jumping my truck to his but it wouldnt start, we ended up having to but the negative jumper cable on the frame and it started just long enough for me to get to the house and then it died, I went ahead and replaced the battery and fixed the starter and alternator ground wires, and even put a new ground wire for the battery on, to no avail. It acts like it wants to start but just wont start, I hear the fuel pumps cut on when I turn the key on, the truck turns over fine now but it just wont start, I also noticed when I put the new ground wire on that my fuel gauge goes all the way to full and I knew it only had a 1/4 tank of gas in it. The voltage from the battery is fine and the radio and all the other lighting works, Sorry for the long post but I need help to get this thing going again

 

Im thinking about going out and getting a fuel filter to put on it to see if it helps at all

 

Maybe also hire a fuel pressure gauge to see if the pressure is low.

 

sounds like a two fold problem.
1. when you go to turn the engine over to start, and you get a clicking noise. That's the solenoid clicking and not engaging the starter. check your battery voltage, should be 12.7 - 13.5 VDC. also try this. leave your key in the on position, vehicle either in park or neutral with the E-brake set, and short across the solenoid post and the battery post of the starter solenoid.
once your engine is running I would suggest again checking the voltage. it should now read 13.7 -14.2VDC
2. the second thing I would suggest or look at is the fuel pressure. fuel injected engines need a certain pressure to keep the fuel flowing. sometimes low pressure can be attributed to a clogged filter. but put a pressure gauge on it to be sure.

 

I bought a fuel filter and I know I need to check the fuel pressure. Thanks for the advice Ill have to check out the starter solenoid as well. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes.

 

I didnt have time to put the new fuel filter on this evening but I had my wife get into the truck and turn it over while I was under the hood looking and listening. The truck is turning over fine and it still acts like it wants to fire up but it just wont do it. I had hear turn the key to the on position and then off several times and each time I can hear the fuel pump cut on for a couple seconds like its supposed to and then goes off. But as I had her try to start it and then she stopped I could hear it just for a little bit pumping so Im not to sure it is the pump.

 

You might still have a ground issue. Make sure that the main ground wire from battery to engine is all good (wire itself, terminals at both ends clean and tight). Also check the bunch of ground wires that bolt to the drivers side radiator support, make sure all sre good.

 

When I put the new ground on I grounded it to the starter bolt where it originally went. I noticed on the old ground was only grounded to the frame ground point along with the other ground wire coming from the front of the starter. So after doing some research I realized that the battery cable needs to be grounded to both locations. So im going to try this and see what it does. Today, I changed the fuel filter, plugs, and went ahead and changed the oil and filter. Im hoping this gets it going.

 

Yes, the main ground wire from the battery has to go to the engine. Check the grounds at the rad support.

 

Ive been messing with the truck checking the grounds and everything else, the ground wires on the radiator support are ok. Im in the process of trying to get the rusted up bolt loosened up for the negative battery cable mid-frame ground. I also noticed the harness that hooks up to the bottom of the distributor has some gunk on it so im going to clean that up and see what it does