I have a 1995 F-150 with the 302 and the Mazda 5-Speed Transmission. The truck has about 93,000 miles on it. The truck starts with no hesitation 99 percent of the time, but occasionaly (i.e. once every week or two) when i turn the key to start the engine, it just makes a clicking sound. After I turn the igniton switch one or two more times after hearing the clicking sound, it starts up again. I have the clutch pedal all the way to the floor when starting the engine, so I don't think that is the problem. This problem did not occur until about a month ago.

I would like to fix and troubleshoot this problem before it occurs on a regular basis, and before i get stuck at some gas station or construction site. I have a couple of questions .

1) Is it possible that I have a short in the ignition system?

2) Is it possible that my ignition module is slowly going bad?

3) How do you check if the clutch/starter interlock switch is starting to go bad?

4) How do you check if the ignition switch is starting to wear out?

5) Are there any other simple checks that I have not included here or thought of yet?

6) Also, in an emergency, is it possible to pop the clutch to get the engine started on a fuel-injected vehicle? I did it a couple of
times on my 87 Ranger with a carbed 2.0 Liter 4 banger.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Jason

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 02-Jan-02 AT 10:21 AM (EST)]I don't think it's your clutch interlock switch. You wouldn't hear the clicking sound if that was the porblem. I once had the same problem that you have. Try cleaning the battery terminals and the ends of the cables, even if they look clean. When this happened to me, I cleaned mine and the problem went away for a week or two. Then my battery completely died, so you might have a battery that's just starting to die. Also this problem happened again to me a couple months after I replaced the battery. It turned out to be the ground cable on the solenoid had a crack in the insulation and the wires were all corroded. I cut that part of the wire out and replaced it and have had no problems since. So check the wires going to your starter for corrosion too. Hope this helps.

Scott

1995 F150 4X4
5.0 Reg Cab SB
33" BFG MT
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=479&.jpg

 

The clicking sound is your starter solenoid or AKA starter relay.
It’s on the passenger side, top of the inside fender, half a foot from the battery.
I would do everything stated in the above post, check the wires, if everything checks out ok, no wires corroded than it’s your relay.
Go to a parts store and pick one up, they don’t cost much, and only takes 5-10 minutes to change out.
I don’t think its your battery, because you stated, it starts prefect 99% of the time, and you said when it makes the clicking noise, if you turn the key again it starts fine, which means it cannot be the battery.
My bet is it’s the relay!

 

Thanks for the help. Looks like I know what I'll be doing later on this week or this weekend. I'll let you know what i find out when i hopefully fix the problem. For now, I have the company truck to drive until the end of the work week.

 

I just had a chance to look at the wires going from the Solenoid/ Battery to the starter. The connections on the solenoid and starter were a little corroded, probably due to 7 years of every day driving and road salt. The battery is less than a year old, so I don't think it was the battery.

It looks like I may have solved the problem (hopefully). If it happens again, I'll replace the solenoid.



C#$#y Trucks-Like A Rock. They generally don't move unless pushed down a hill.

 

Some other info that may help.If you think the the solenoid is bad turn on the ignition switch and than jumper with heavy wire or plier handles from the battery side of the solenoid to the starter. If the vehicle cranks than it is a bad solenoid. Do this after you check out the wires & connections.