can any one help me? I just picked up a '95 F150XL 4WD it was running good, then thurs morning when I went out to go to work the starter wouldnt turn ,all I got was a click when I turned the key(its a 5.0 by the way)that eve I took the starter to have it checked and it checked out good so I bought a solenoid and put on it and it still wont turn being new to Ford trucks I'm not sure where to go from there but I would like to get it fixed in time for work tues. I replaced the battery and checked the wires ...still nothing what can I do? HELP Please drop me an email or post it here as i will be monitoring thanks

 

Did you replace the starter relay on the fender well? Jump the large terminals on the relay and see if it will crank. Use a test light and see if the small wire to the relay from the ignition switch lights up when you crank over to start. If the wire going to the relay doesnt light then its a circuit problem, possible neutral saftety switch or the ignition switch.

 

Hi, I am not FRANKDALOAF, Im his wife, but I went to work Thursday, my Ford Ranger XLT 93 was running fine, I went down the road to get a coffee, got in and tried to start it. All I got was a click, radio,door chime, worked but that was all. We could coast start the truck but that is all. He took the battery and had it tested, they said we needed a new one, so we replaced it. Still wont start. He replaced the selenoid, no luck and then took the starter to test it, they said we needed a new one, still wont start. Could I possibly have the same thing going on? I also need to go to work Tuesday and would appriciate some help. Thanks a bunch!

 

It certainly sounds like it. You two have had a run of bad luck it seems.

On each vehicle you state that you replaced the solenoid. You are referring to the solenoid on the starter itself or the starter relay on the fender well?

 

He replaced the starter relay on the fender well. He also tried to jump this with screwdrivers and it wouldnt start. Also, I looked in the Haynes manual and I have a standard, so I dont think I have a neutral switch, is the clutch/starter switch the same?

 

If the starter is new and properly grounded and you bypass the relay you should get a cranking engine. So if failing that it must be a battery cable issue, unless the new starter is bad as well. Cables can wrot from corrosives from the battery under the sheathing and not be visible from outward observation. Make sure all connections are clean and tight, and that the cables are in good condition.

Yes the clutch switch is the neutral safety switch. If it is bad you would not get a power signal to the small wire on the relay. Doing the bypass of the relay will bypass the switch and the neutral switch however. Be very carefull not to have the vehicle in gear when doing the bypass test.

 

the oddest thing, after my last attempt Fri eve it wouldnt start ,when I went out Sat. morning I pushed the brake pedal and hit the key and lo and behold it cranked and fired up, so I shut it down and tried again and so far its still starting as long as it still works I'm gonna just wonder what the heck it was all about

 

I'm always cleaning terminals to make sure they have good contact.
Corrosion finds the strangest places to live

 

This is FRANKDALOAFS wife again. Just a update, He checked the
battery cables and cleaned them. Then he finally decided to take the truck to the garage and let them check. Low and behold- the new starter he put on was bad. He took it back got another one and now the truck runs fine. I just wanted to thank you for your input on the problem. Thanks again

 

If you heard the starter relay click, that means voltage is present at the starter relay. Next disconnect the small wire off the starter relay and jumper across the remaining two terminals of the starter relay with an insulated wire. The starter motor should turn over. If it does, the starter relay is bad.

Since you already replaced the starter relay that probably aint it. Reconnect the small wire to the starter relay.

Now you'll need a voltmeter to do the next part. Disconnect the small wire from the starter relay to the motor coil and verify it has 12 volts on it when your buddy turns the key to the start position, by placing the + end on the wire and - end on a bare metal part of the starter motor.

If you see 12 volts there, that means the starter relay path to the starter motor is good.

Next, place the + lead on the large positive lead of the starter, and the - lead on the starter motor ground lead. You should see +12 volts. That means all your battery connections in the starting system circuit are good.

My guess is that you need to replace the starter motor.

Get a Haynes Automotove Repair Manual and look at the Chassis Electrical System Starting system circuit for a clear understanding.

 

Not trying to get smart here but, did you leave something out there? something lost me there.

I think what you are trying to do here is measure the voltage drop across the wires. I would first check to see if you get 12v @ the starter. If you do (when the key is turned,of course) then the starter is bad. If not,if you put your meter across a wire (Pos. meter lead to the most Pos side uf the circuit)(or batt. side)Neg. lead to the most Neg. side. Whatever voltage you see here is your loss thru the wire.Which is not good if more than 1.00v.

 

That's what I did to verify the voltage was getting to the starter motor solenoid.

 

so you are getting 12v at the starter?

 

Yes. there's two positive leads on the starter one is from the starter relay. That voltage actuates another switch inside the motor assembly that applies the +12 volts from the battery terminal to the starter motor itself. I've got an Explorer, but the truck starter circuit should be similar.

 

I'm going to regret going here but, it sounds like you have a bad starter.Do you have a relay on top of the starter. It sounds like everything up to this point is doing its job. The starter has 12v to use but it can't do its job. There would be 2 reasons for this. 1) bad starter 2)motor has too much drag. I know you didn't want to hear that one but what can I say. You have been thru it all and have everything that is required so it can only be 1 of 2 things.
Just an after thought,this is a click you hear and not a clunk, right?