390 won't crank
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From: Lakeland
390 won't crank
Hello. First time posting a question. Have gotten many good answers from this forum in the past so I decided to jion to as a question. I have a 66 F-250 that has a 390 in it. When I tried to start it today, it made a little effort but didn't turn over. the second try resulted in one loud click. It has been on the battery tender for 2 days. Any thoughts as to where I can start?
Thanks
Thanks
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,423
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From: Clarksville,Tn
Welcome aboard; There's only two things needed to crank it; fuel & Spark; however sounds like you don't have enough crank to push / turn over the motor; once you get it successfully crank over; then the spark & fuel part kick in.
Try jumping it off from a another car or truck, since you mention the battery been on a charge for a few day's. This should turn the motor over a few.
Try jumping it off from a another car or truck, since you mention the battery been on a charge for a few day's. This should turn the motor over a few.
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Check the cables, sometimes you can get corrosion inside the insulation that is pretty well hidden.
Check the connections. Where the connector crimps to the wire can be a stress point resulting in broken strands in the wire.
Check the battery, may have a "full charge" but be weak anyway.
Have you changed timing recently? IIRC, timing too far advanced will make a hard starter.
Check the connections. Where the connector crimps to the wire can be a stress point resulting in broken strands in the wire.
Check the battery, may have a "full charge" but be weak anyway.
Have you changed timing recently? IIRC, timing too far advanced will make a hard starter.
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From: Lakeland
Thank you both. I will be checking the battery first, then moving on to cables. I just recently got the truck so the timing has never been checked by me. I will give that a check also. Hope I used the right reply key.
Thanks again. This forum is incredible!
Thanks again. This forum is incredible!
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Acworth, GA
Hello. First time posting a question. Have gotten many good answers from this forum in the past so I decided to jion to as a question. I have a 66 F-250 that has a 390 in it. When I tried to start it today, it made a little effort but didn't turn over. the second try resulted in one loud click. It has been on the battery tender for 2 days. Any thoughts as to where I can start?
Thanks
Thanks
I also have a 3 part voltmeter test that may help you narrow it down too. Although, I would suggest that you make sure that the battery is fully charged, and all connections are good first.
Good luck, and let me know if this helps.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Fowlerville, Michigan
If it made a "click" or "pop" noise it might be your starter solenoid (should be mounted on the passenger side fender apron). It may have broken ($15 to replace) or the connections on the solenoid or the battery terminals are corroded and not making contact.
Try bumping the solenoid a few times with a mallet then attempt to crank it. If that fails, turn your ignition on and use a screwdriver to bridge the positive contact (from the positive battery cable-end to the starter post on the solenoid. It should crank if your battery is holding juice. If not, you could have a bad starter or a bad ground.
Try bumping the solenoid a few times with a mallet then attempt to crank it. If that fails, turn your ignition on and use a screwdriver to bridge the positive contact (from the positive battery cable-end to the starter post on the solenoid. It should crank if your battery is holding juice. If not, you could have a bad starter or a bad ground.
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From: Lakeland
Thanks Grubbworm and crazyeddie. I will get on this tonight. I will let you all know what the result is. Can't wait to get the truck back running.
Thanks again to all!
Thanks again to all!
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: East SF Bay Area
Might be hard to do some of those 3 point voltmeter test procedures if you can't start the engine to run it at 2000 rpm.
I'm with crazyeddie in suspecting your starter solenoid if the battery is good & has a decent charge. They do tend to go bad, but aren't expensive or difficult to replace. I like to have a spare on hand anyway just to verify in circumstances like this. If it's not your battery, wiring, connections, or solenoid, you might be looking at a failing starter. That's the last thing you want to check. Do that buy using a jumper directly to the battery. If you narrow it down to the starter, pull it & take it in to the parts store before just buying a new one. A lot of them will test it for you for free & save you the hassle & expense of putting a new one in just to have the same problem. Good luck & let us know how it goes.
I'm with crazyeddie in suspecting your starter solenoid if the battery is good & has a decent charge. They do tend to go bad, but aren't expensive or difficult to replace. I like to have a spare on hand anyway just to verify in circumstances like this. If it's not your battery, wiring, connections, or solenoid, you might be looking at a failing starter. That's the last thing you want to check. Do that buy using a jumper directly to the battery. If you narrow it down to the starter, pull it & take it in to the parts store before just buying a new one. A lot of them will test it for you for free & save you the hassle & expense of putting a new one in just to have the same problem. Good luck & let us know how it goes.
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From: Lakeland
So, I took tested the battery and the solenoid and both tested fine. I did not have a chance to test the starter. The truck has been siting for several weeks. Is there a possibility that the engine is siezed? The starter seems to engage pretty hard. The click is very loud.
Thanks all.
Thanks all.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
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I don't think the ''engine'' is siezed'' it would take several years'' not a few weeks!
but you could try putting a wrench on the crank and turn it by hand to see if it's
froze up, It sounds like the starter is locked up!! try tapping it with a hammer, then try
and crank it!..if that don't work remove the starter and bench test it?
you might need a ''new starter!!
but you could try putting a wrench on the crank and turn it by hand to see if it's
froze up, It sounds like the starter is locked up!! try tapping it with a hammer, then try
and crank it!..if that don't work remove the starter and bench test it?
you might need a ''new starter!!
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 485
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From: Fowlerville, Michigan
I don't think the ''engine'' is siezed'' it would take several years'' not a few weeks!
but you could try putting a wrench on the crank and turn it by hand to see if it's
froze up, It sounds like the starter is locked up!! try tapping it with a hammer, then try
and crank it!..if that don't work remove the starter and bench test it?
you might need a ''new starter!!
but you could try putting a wrench on the crank and turn it by hand to see if it's
froze up, It sounds like the starter is locked up!! try tapping it with a hammer, then try
and crank it!..if that don't work remove the starter and bench test it?
you might need a ''new starter!!
You can check your oil and see if there's any moisture in the crankcase and try cranking it with a ratchet (3/4" socket?) - with everyone else, highly doubt she's froze up unless you ran the ***** off it with no oil before you shut it down.
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From: Lakeland
Hey all. Sorry this took me so long to reply. I got the truck running. Turns out it was a loose wire from the solenoid to the starter. How embarassing. Thank you all for your help and I am sure as I work through this truck, I will be calling on you all for help quite frequently.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
From: Fowlerville, Michigan
Hey all. Sorry this took me so long to reply. I got the truck running. Turns out it was a loose wire from the solenoid to the starter. How embarassing. Thank you all for your help and I am sure as I work through this truck, I will be calling on you all for help quite frequently.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
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