I've had a problem with my starter not engaging..so I replaced the starter motor. Now when the ignition is turned on , I hear a clicking noise,but, watching the volmeter, it goes from 12v to 0 volts. I rechecked my wire connections. They are correct. The battery cables get really hot. I thought there was a short. All appears fine. When the starter motor is removed ,cables still attached, ignition to 'ON", the voltmeter stays at 12 volts and I hear the drive gear pop out. What gives ???????????? Replacing the starter motor appeared to be such a clear cut procedure. The starter motor is a remanufacure. I also replaced the starter solenoid. Please Help !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

OK ..here is more info. it appears the battery cables are getting much too hot because of the draw on it. It appears the engine is locked up somehow. I can put a socket on the front of the engine and turn it one way..until it binds ..then I can turn it the opposite way until it bind ??????????

 

Hi PCS and welcome to FTE

What year is your truck and what engine?
Did it just die one day? Refuse to start? Any other symptoms?
You should be able to turn the engine over as far as you want with a socket on the front but always turn it the normal direction that it turns when running....clockwise. Probably the first thing to do would be to remove the starter and see if you can turn the engine by hand then in case it was the wrong starter or something. If that's not it then you have a more serious problem

I think the next thing I would do would be to pull the belt off and try turning it in case something like the PS pump or alternator is seized. If that's not it then you might be looking at pulling the engine.
Let us know what you find.

 

Thanks for replying.It's a 1997 with a 4.3L. To begin with I was having starter problems about once a month, for the past several months, where I would go underneath and rap the starter,then it would start. It seemed to do this only about once per month and if the vehicle sat idle for more than 2-3 days. One day it wouldn't start,so I rapped the starter, the engine started,but then I heard a 'tapping' sound. The noise was pretty consistent,so I shut it down. I replaced the starter,no luck. The battery cables got real hot !!!!. I returned the starter,(because I was talking to an Autozone parts guy who said that when Ford starters are remanufactured they are real tight !!!!!!!). Anyway with the second starter installed I still had the same problem. Battery cables get real hot,(I checked and rechecked all my connections),and the all I hear is a clicking noise.
Thanks for any help/advise.
Paul

 

Try a new ground cable. My Mustang did that once. It would drag real bad when the engine was hot. I replaced the starter because it showed a 700 amp draw. It turned out to be a bad ground cable(even though it looked fine).
Just an idea,
Jimmy

 

are you sure it is not a 4.2l if it is your problem may be coolant in the cyclinders. check this site www.leakingfords.com

 

You are correct, it is a 4.2L. Thanks for the info. I did notice the coolant level going down. No obvious leaks noted. But it puzzles me that I change my oil every 4000 miles and have not noticed any water contamination that I can recall.Unless it was so minute!
I have to investigate this further. Thanks for the reply.

 

If it's a coolant in the engine problem you can remove the spark plugs and then see if it will crank over.

 

PCS,

Your engine has not been starting because the cylinders are filled with coolant. Trying enough to finally get it to turn over damaged a piston a rod. That is the tapping that you hear.

The lower intake is leaking coolant into the cylinders, rather than the oil. That's why you didn't notice coolant when you changed the oil. It's been burning up in the combustion chamber.

You can indeed remove the spark plugs and crank the engine. That will shoot the coolant out. But, if it is knocking, you'll need a new engine

 

Well,I started removing spark plugs and the 2nd one I removed,coolant came pouring out ! I always liked Fords. They seemed to always have 'a better idea'....until this engine production year model. Thanks for all your input and ideas. It has ben very helpful. This is a great site. Lots of interesting ideas.

 

Exact same thing happened to my 4.2L engine at 103,000. One night I started noticing a small amount of white smoke out the tail pipe. It was sporatic, so I didn't worry too much. Then. About a week later, all hell broke loose. I couldn't get the engine to crank at all. Even when shorting the starting circuit with a screwdriver. So I replaced the started. bingo, Got it to crank. Then all you heard was... CLank Clank CLank Clank. And a HUGE Cloud of WHITE smoke pouring out the tail pipe. Bad news, blew the head gasket and spun the bearings. Engine was toast. Had to put in another 4.2L with only 42,000 miles on it. Hopefully this one will last longer.
To the guy that knows about the LEAKINGFORD.COM address: Is there anything that can be done to lessen the chances of this happening. Like change the head gaskets at certain intervals.. What can be done for future 96-97-98 4.2L owners?

 

D Beames,

It wasn't your head gasket. It was the lower intake gasket that failed.

The Website pretty much spells out who has this problem and what to do if your engine were built during this period. There are signs of gasket failure, so owners need to be aware of them. Just like in your own situation, as well as the original post here, you need to watch your coolant level and absolutely cannot attempt to start an engine that won't turn over.

Ford's original gasket design and application are the problem. Once the original gaskets are replaced with their revised versions, you don't have to do anything else, other than routine maitenance; such as changing coolant every 2 years. Engines built after 1/15/1998 do not have these problems and the head gaskets have never been an issue on the 4.2L Ford engine.

This situation about the engine not turning over, then finally starting but banging like hell is very common for 1997-1998 4.2L F-150s and E-150s. Luckily though, I've also heard from a few people that it worked out alright for. One fella e-mailed me to say that his engine locked over a year ago and sat in his driveway until he found the site. He then removed the spark plugs, expelled the coolant from the cylinders, changed the failed lower intake gaskets and the engine now runs fine That is a story I wish I'd hear more often.

If your 4.2L engine were built after 1/15/1998, you don;t have to be concerned about these gaskets.

 

I would like to know if ther is anyone out here who can point me in the right direction. I decided to forgo the gasket change, and just replace the engine. Where should i start looking? I guess i was lucky mine did not go until 135000 miles.