Hey Guys its been a while since i've posted on these boards . For the last few months my truck hasnt started . it got put on the back burner between working and after work going out into the fields to harvest, and now the truck has been demoted as a dd to a truck i want to start fixing up.

96 5.0L

So anyways the problem i am having is the truck just makes one click at the starter and wont even try to turn over . Ive put on two starters . and along with the other starter they all do the click .this last starter has given me the strongest click of any. Know correct me if im wrong but by jumping the solenoid on the fender wall it should theoretically try and turn the truck over , but its not it just doesnt the one click and wont do anything else.

Any ideas?

also i put a socket and strong arm on and am able to turn the engine over so i know its not seized.

and of course heres a few pictures so that you guys know why i want the truck up and running.

 

Check your grounds also . I'm sure you have tested the battery ... Also do a voltage drop test at the starter . Sounds like a voltage/ground issue .Best of luck !

 

yeah have tested and charged the battery .

 

Check the voltage to your starter , check your grounds . A digital Multimeter would help right now!

 

Alright ill try and look at that tomorrow , luckily have a nice fluke multimeter in my work truck . should be getting 12v right?

 

Battery voltage , slight drop at start attempt . Ck with ground to battery and ground to block . If you have a Fluke , you should know how to check . Best of luck !

 

Did the starters you installed have the 1/4" quick disconnect on the solenoid, or did they have the post?

Seems Ford had Some Problems with that Q-D and reverted to a post on the starter solenoid and a ring terminal on the wire. For easily seven years I repeatedly had to dive under the right side of my '94 and move that Q-D around to scrape the crud off it so I could start the truck -- either that or park it on a grade so I could get it rolling fast enough to pop the clutch in 2nd and start it. I finally had to replace the starter when the 1/4" terminal on the starter solenoid built up enough crud that I couldn't scrape it off with my pocketknife and restore contact. That's exactly what it sounded like -- an emphatic "KLIK!" instead of the sounds of a V8 turning fast enough to start.

 

Sounds dumb, but I installed a starter once that would only click. There were two small terminals on the solenoid, and I hooked to the wrong terminal. Not sure what the other one is supposed to do, but I switched and it was good to go. Do you have two terminals? Really I have no idea but it might be worth a check. My problem was on an F-700 with a Cummins.

 

Did you have the battery load tested??? No just metered to say you have 13 - 14 volts. If you have a 300cca battery and it's only pushing 200cca it's not going to turn the engine over. Take a known good battery and install it in the truck. it should spin it. Or if you're insistent on using the old one then when someone turns the key over, with your fluke on the battery, see what the voltage drops to. If it's dropping to 6 - 9 volt I'd bet the battery is the culprit, just because you said you already put a new starter on.

 

as said earlier, check the connections on the starter. pay close attention to the small "trigger"wire. if it does not have a good contact, it will either click like you are getting or do nothing at all.

also, try jumping the solenoid on the fender. to see if the starter will engage

 

Ok quick update went and metered the solenoid on the fender and the starter they both or reading the same as the battery wich guaranteed needs to be charged will throw it on a charger tonight , battery was reading 12 v and would drop down to 6-7 v when I tried to start it . What's this small trigger wire ?

My starter has 3 post but only two wires .the one post is grounded to the solenoid on the starter and wired up like the old starter was . ,y starter does have a quick disconnect but the wire goes to the post that connect is attached too.

 

if you are only getting 6-7 volts that sounds like it is your problem.

some of the 5.0 trucks had a small wire on the starter that acted like a trigger wire to actuate the starter mounted solenoid.

 

Yeah we shall see tomorrow after the battery is charged. When I jump the solenoid on the fender the starter clicks but that's it .just one click .

 

most likely because of only having 6 volts. once the battery is charged it should be fine.