Sorry for the long winded post...! Hey guys I picked up this 87 F250 4x4 with a 70's era 460 in it. Overall the truck is in real good shape, the flatbed and 4x4 were worth what I paid for it... When I got it the starter solenoid was bad and could be jumped with a screwdriver, So I got her running and drove about 80 miles home cruising right along at 55 nice and smooth... truck needs tires but all in all im pretty happy.

<a href="http://s1238.photobucket.com/user/Trevoralton/media/005_zpsdac9ddff.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff484/Trevoralton/005_zpsdac9ddff.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 005_zpsdac9ddff.jpg"/></a>


So I get home hop in the ranger and down to the parts store, pick up a solenoid slap her and she fires right up! Yoohoo! So I do it a few times to be sure and take the woman down the road for a burger and a beer in celebration... On the 8 mile drive home the Alt gauge starts to rise the truck hiccups (unrelated I believe) but I pull over to inspect. Solenoid is fried again and starter lead wire is real hot.... Pop the clutch to get her home, and wanna tackle this thing right today.

From my research I believe I have a ground issue... But I feel like there is conflicting info on how the grounds should be ran.

So heres my question: If you were going to re-run battery cables (positive and negative), leads to the the solenoid and starter, and ground wires, how would you go about doing it? Gauge of wire? Where would you make the connections? Some people say ground to fenderwell body, some say frame, some say from the starter to frame, some say from battery to fender....? Im a self proclaimed hater of all things electrical and want to only have to do this once if at all possible...


Thanks guys yer input is always helpful!

Thanks for the Info!!!!

 

Battery Positive to solenoid, solenoid to battery, and I always run the Battery negative cable straight to the block. Most after market battery cables can be had with one or two smaller 10ga pig tails, I would run one of them to the fender. That way you know you have a good ground to your engine block and the body

Matt

 

The way it should be done is a ground from the battery to body, then another ground from the battery to the block. The run a ground from the same mount on the block back to a clean frame ground. At least that's what I understand. As for positive, There should be one from the battery to the starter, then another one from the battery to the fender mounted solenoid. And larger cable is better. I would do at least 2 gauge cable.

 

Thanks for the Info!

So heres an update... I took off all the charging/starting parts and ran them down to the parts store to have them tested... everything passed but the starter seemed to be engaging alittle rough so I bought a new one, as well as all new 2ga cables for grounds and everything. Installed everything today and she started right up super snappy... but Im still getting a climbing ALT gauge just passed center at idle, and then climbing during acceleration... Any thoughts on whats causing this...? Or how to accurately get a charging reading...? The alternator tested super strong, 16.4 if I remember correct...