Dead engine = frustration
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: SE Iowa
Dead engine = frustration
I have a 78 F150 with a 351M. It died while idling and I had to tow it home. The battery is older, but has a full charge, and I got nothing when I turned the key. I have replaced the starter, solenoid and cable between the two. Now I get rapid clicking in the solenoid. It did turn over twice at one point and I thought it was fixed, but it's back to the clicking again. Is this a ground issue, and if so, where do I go from here?
Cranky Old Guy
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,562
Likes: 6
From: Raphine, Virginia
Grounds are usually the first thing to check. Neg batt cable should go directly to block. Solenoid must be grounded for it to work, a lot of times just a sheet metal mounting screw isn't enough.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: SE Iowa
Update!
Thanks for the responses, but I have had a breakthrough to a new problem.
My brother had me try turning the crank with a socket and breaker bar to see if the starter gear had bound up. I did, and the truck then turned over...until after several tries to get it started, it went back to clicking again. So now I'm thinking either my new starter is defective or my flywheel is junk. I'm sure hoping for the former, not the latter. Any comments to this? (400inatruck- I had no idea where you were going with your post- now I do).
My brother had me try turning the crank with a socket and breaker bar to see if the starter gear had bound up. I did, and the truck then turned over...until after several tries to get it started, it went back to clicking again. So now I'm thinking either my new starter is defective or my flywheel is junk. I'm sure hoping for the former, not the latter. Any comments to this? (400inatruck- I had no idea where you were going with your post- now I do).
Last edited by blueovalfan1; May 15, 2011 at 09:06 PM. Reason: Add text
Senior User
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: Wrights community
I had the flywheel problem happen on a '78 f250 with a 400 in it. We had to go to Oreilly's 5 times for new starters(we kept grinding the teeth off), and we went for 2 solenoids, and I looked at the flywheel, and it looks bad. I am planning on taking it out anyhow. Speaking of it, Any ideas on how to unlock a motor? It froze due to setting still for 3 years. I tried transmission fluid, wd 40.
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: Wrights community
@gfw1985 just use the positive side of the jumper cable. the starter is already ground. The ground cable(if the battery is hooked up) goes the engine mount anyhow.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Cranky Old Guy
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,562
Likes: 6
From: Raphine, Virginia
The reasoning behind my post was to get to make sure he has a good ground for the test. Next step, providing it works, is remove the neg jumper. If it quits working his ground is bad.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: SE Iowa
finally
After all that, it turns out it was a bad ground. I replaced both battery cables (the negative was worse than I thought), now it starts again. I had been using jumper wires and my multimeter, so I didn't think it would help. Thanks all for the tips and tricks! My truck lives again!