Guys, I thought the clicking from the starter was my battery dying. It was old anyways so I replaced it. Well, that didn't fix the issue. Here is what happens. Most of the time it starts just fine. Every now and then it just clunks once and doesn't turn the engine. If I take the dust cover off and spin the flywheel just a 1/8" I hear something click. Then I can sometimes get it to start. Sometimes not. I do not know how old the starter is.

Is the starter going bad? Are my cables needing replacement? There is no corrosion around the battery cables. Any help would be nice. Thanks.

 

Did you put in a new or used starter?

When the engine doesn't crank, is the starter spinning or is it engaged to the flywheel, or doing nothing?

I would start off cleaning all the connections, and possibly replacing the relay on the fender. Also, make sure the ground cable and connection to the engine is good.

 

The click is odd. That sounds like the Bendix is staying engaged and then dropping out when you move the flywheel. Obviously it shouldn't do that and if the flywheel's teeth are good then there must be something wrong with the starter.

You say you can't always get it started after moving the flywheel. What do you have to do to get it started? And, when it cranks how does it sound?

 

My battery, being weak as it is, would make a thunk noise every time it was completely dead or almost completely dead.

My thunking was coming from the solenoid on the passenger side.

I've also had it grind on me before, buzz, and not do anything but go, "Whump whump... whmup whump... etc".

One time it did it, I pulled my battery cables and checked all of my connections, shined up the connectors on the solenoid with some fine sandpaper and cleaned the cable clamps and posts with a battery terminal cleaner, and put it all back and it spun over just fine.

I'd start by checking connections first. If these are good, how are your clamps? Do they squeeze the cables tight and are they not loose? How are the cables? Corrosion?

Also, when it clunks, hold it there for a second. Do the dash lights go off? No? If they don't go off, go grab one of the battery cables after releasing the key and see if one of the cables might be hot.

If the dash lights go off when you hit the key, that's a good indication of how the battery is. Also, judging by how you just put a new battery in, I'd go ahead and re-check all of your connections/connectors anyway.

I ALWAYS watch my battery light when I'm cranking. Just something to help tell me how the charge is, you know? Really, I don't mind the battery light being an idiot gauge, though I wouldn't have minded if my truck came with a factory oil pressure gauge.

If it starts every time by jumping the solenoid, I'd replace the solenoid as this would be your problem.

 

Thanks guys for all the help. The starter basically just clunks and stops. I can hold the ignition in the start position and when I release it the solenoid tries to release but I think Gary is right about the bendix. Ive been able to get it to start usually by just moving the crank a hair, but this afternoon it has gotten worse. It wont start now, just clunks and wont turn.

I will admit the battery cable are looking old, and the clamp bolts are rusted to the point I cannot tighten them. I just replaced the starter solenoid on the fender last summer. Basically the engine is totally new except the alternator and starter.

The past three weeks since i sold my motorcycle I have been driving this truck, and it has cost me alot of time and money. But nothing has gone wrong with any of the things i have rebuilt. It seems the old gal is telling me to finish her up with a few more new parts. I just got the a/c going the other day. Rebuilt the distributor. And now I am working on this starter problem. Damn thing. lol

 

1983 may well be right about the cables and connections. If the starter isn't getting enough juice it can't do it's job. I would clean the connections, replace cables if needed, and see what happens. If you give that starter all it needs it may work fine. And, you need good connections even with a new starter. Good Saturday project. More fun than driving home from Nashville.

 

I drive back and forth from Louisville KY all the time. I have come to hate long distance drives. Washington D.C. to Tulsa must be a doozy of a haul.

 

I know its a lot of trouble, but if you would take the starter off, clean the bendix (the shaft with gear) clean with some solvent then lightly oil it, that will help and may be all you need to do. (I have cleaned many starters that were "bad", but then kept working for years.)......J...

 

Really? Hmmm... I think my plan of attack should include doing this. I am helping a co-worker this morning with her car, after she is gone I will probably start tackling the starter issue. First thing will be to remove the starter. Then replace battery cables as they are looking pretty bad. I will clean the bendix as you have suggested, then oil it and reinstall the starter. If it works i will just keep on going with it. Thanks for the advice.

 

Well, I did everything I could to revive that old starter. Nothing worked. I went and got a new one. Put it in and it fired up beautifully. I didn't even replace the battery cables. It was for sure the starter bendix not functioning properly. Thanks for all the help guys.

 

Glad you got it sorted. No fun at 100 degrees.

 

Spoke too soon. Everything was working well. Went to McDonalds for some grub. After eating I went back to the truck and no start again. I replaced the battery cables, now its working. Dang wish I had done that first thing. Oh well, don't have to worry about the starting system on the truck for a long time. The battery was getting old anyways, and the cables did need repalcing, so the only extra thing I spent money on that I probably didnt have to was the starter. Oh well.

 

I know it is probably too late, but I found this post just very useful for this kind of issue. Maybe it will come in handy for a searcher who comes across this post. I think this is sticky worthy, but maybe that is just me and my hole in electrical knowledge showing.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post12085192

 

OK, done.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ml#post7434560