Cold outside - engine won't turn over
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2014
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Cold outside - engine won't turn over
When it's cold outside (45 degrees or below) I turn the key nothing happens first try. No dash lights, no attempt to start. Nothing. I try it a few more times and it fires right up. The colder the more attempts it takes to "connect". Any ideas here? I just can't figure out whats going on. If it matters my trucks is a 74 F100 w/360 freshly rebuilt (400 miles). New starter, new alternator, new battery, new almost everything.
Freshman User
Joined: May 2012
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It may be a ground issue... I know I have one and my truck starts and lights/ directionals and everything works better when it's cold out.
It could also be your connections to your battery check those first, as well as your starter and altenator connections and coil if you have one. Make sure your grounds and connections are clean and bare metal for conductivity.
It could also be your connections to your battery check those first, as well as your starter and altenator connections and coil if you have one. Make sure your grounds and connections are clean and bare metal for conductivity.
Freshman User
Joined: May 2012
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Anytime let me know if this solves your issue. Just make sure your grounds are tight and clean it will make a world of difference sand them with sand paper and them re tighten them. If this doesn't work let me know and we'll go to round two.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2014
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Sorry I'm just now getting to update, but so far so good. I cleaned all the ground straps and locations last week sanding them clean and using some dialectic grease. So far the starter has worked great. Thanks for your help 1976fordguy.
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Junior User
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Update - finally fixed
The old girl started doing it again! I'll spare you the weeks of poking and prodding, but finally think I narrowed it down to the NSS. I've replaced it and the starting problem Seems to be corrected. Just wanted to update in case someone searches for this at a later date.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,997
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From: NE Ohio
cables do corrode inside the insulation. By removing the cable you might have knocked some corrosion loose inside the cable but its built back up again.
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Vermont
Neutral safety switch? I've thought of every NSS abbreviation I could muster and guess that is what you found. just want to know for my own info. Gary
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2014
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Sorry - Yes Neutral Safety Switch. I put a new one on (my reverse light weren't working) and used a nail to scratch the location of the old NSS so it would be in the exact same location. Hooked everything back up and it would fail to start intermittently like before. So I loosened the bolts and gave it a little tap to push it slightly to the left - tightened it down and no more starting problem. I think that was my issue all along.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Knoxville, TN
Nice. Sounds like you've got it sorted out now, but for future reference, there is a little hole where you can insert a pin or small drill bit for alignment to get it set right without the trial & error. There's a procedure you can look up, but IIRC, it was put the shifter in neutral, get the switch aligned with the pin in the hole, and tighten it down.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2014
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Nice. Sounds like you've got it sorted out now, but for future reference, there is a little hole where you can insert a pin or small drill bit for alignment to get it set right without the trial & error. There's a procedure you can look up, but IIRC, it was put the shifter in neutral, get the switch aligned with the pin in the hole, and tighten it down.
I've heard that for the trans mounted NSS, but not for the column mounted. Is that also true for column mounted switch?
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Knoxville, TN
Yep:
With the shifter & transmisison in neutral, and a pin in that hole holding things in place, you can tighten the bolts to hold it in position. The back end of a drill bit can work as the pin.
With the shifter & transmisison in neutral, and a pin in that hole holding things in place, you can tighten the bolts to hold it in position. The back end of a drill bit can work as the pin.
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Junior User
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Good to know! Thanks for the tip.
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