try to start it. Today, I had a friend watching as I tried to start it. He saw a spark that looked to come from tha (2) long bolts that go through the starter. I crawled underneath and found a little play in the wire to the solenoid. I tightened it an the truck started every time . However, I still saw a little bit of a spark when my friend started the truck. Is my starter going bad? Any experts with good advice? Thanks in advance.

 

The starter gets its ground through the body of the starter. The bolts are not tight enough to carry the. Needed current the starter needs. Tighten the bolts!

 

times since my last post and 5-6 times in a row. After tightening the solenoid wire the spark grew smaller and disappeared after three starts. I have started the truck another two times. One with no spark and the other I did not have anyone to watch for it. Thoughts?

 

Like he said make sure your starter mount bolts are tight to the engine. If it's starting fine don't worry beyond that

 

I checked and tightened the bolts this morning. The big bolts were tight but the (2) Small headed bolts that come out of the front of the starter were a little loose. I tightened one about 1 1/2 turns and the other maybe 1/2 turn. The truck started every time (approximately 10) today. Then I came home, the truck was off less than 1/2 hour and was dead when I tried to start it. On the 3rd try it turned over and started. Does this sound like the starter internals are shot. Is it time for a new starter? Thanks again.

 

You need to figure out if the problem is the starter solenoid or the starter. Do you have a volt Meyer?

 

borrow one how do I check? Thanks.

 

the front of the starter someone told me that the armature was shorting out and I need a new starter. Does this sound correct? Thanks again.

 

Sparks from inside of the starter are a dead give away. The starter is bad, a lot the bigger parts store can test it to you. You might wNt. Change out the starter solenoid at the same time.

 

was the person that said what you said. But, he told me that my starter and solenoid come as a unit. He ordered both units (two different starters because a 2001 7.3 showed three options on his computer) and I am going to take mine off in the morning so we can match it up. Besides disconnecting the batteries anything else I need to be aware of? Thanks again.

 

I would like to know what the three options are. I know that some starters have two mounting bolt holes and some have three, either will work as well as the other. Is the third a heavy duty gear reduction unit? If so you might want to go that route.