Starter Solenoid
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
Several places are common problems.
First, there is the steering column piece that likes to break. Not sure if your year still uses it, but it's a common problem on the early 90's trucks with tilt wheel. When this breaks, you turn the key and everything lights up on the dash, but it won't crank over. If you take the short cover near the cluster off, if you have the same setup you will see a small rod that moves up and down on top of the column when you work the key. If you turn the key all the way to start, and then grab this rod with pliers and help push it more toward the cluster and the truck cranks, then the broken column piece is your problem. It looks like this;
It could also be your neutral safety switch. You have one on the clutch pedal right behind the clutch master cylinder on the inside of the firewall, or you have one down on the side of the transmission if you have a automatic.
First, there is the steering column piece that likes to break. Not sure if your year still uses it, but it's a common problem on the early 90's trucks with tilt wheel. When this breaks, you turn the key and everything lights up on the dash, but it won't crank over. If you take the short cover near the cluster off, if you have the same setup you will see a small rod that moves up and down on top of the column when you work the key. If you turn the key all the way to start, and then grab this rod with pliers and help push it more toward the cluster and the truck cranks, then the broken column piece is your problem. It looks like this;
It could also be your neutral safety switch. You have one on the clutch pedal right behind the clutch master cylinder on the inside of the firewall, or you have one down on the side of the transmission if you have a automatic.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,762
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From: St Louis
The starter solenoid (mounted on the starter motor) gets its power then the starter relay (mounted on the firewall), is energized.
Does the starter relay energize with the ignition switch is turned to START?
Does the starter relay energize with the ignition switch is turned to START?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2016
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Starter Relay
Hi Guys,
Thanks for the replies, My truck is an XL so I do not have a tilt column so I assume that is not the problem if it is only on tilt columns also it has an E4OD tranny. I used the wrong terminology, yes the starter relay wire from the key is not getting power to engage the starter. I can jump it with a remote start button and it works fine, I tested for voltage on the wire from the key switch with the key in start and nothing. First let me say the truck sat for a little while I did an engine swap. When I first tried to start it with the key it tried to start but was like it was not getting good connection so I cleaned the terminal and then nothing. Is there a fuse in this circuit? It can only be the starter key switch or the neutral safety switch or a bad wire or fusable link possibly. What and how to check first to narrow this problem down.
Thanks, Brian
Thanks for the replies, My truck is an XL so I do not have a tilt column so I assume that is not the problem if it is only on tilt columns also it has an E4OD tranny. I used the wrong terminology, yes the starter relay wire from the key is not getting power to engage the starter. I can jump it with a remote start button and it works fine, I tested for voltage on the wire from the key switch with the key in start and nothing. First let me say the truck sat for a little while I did an engine swap. When I first tried to start it with the key it tried to start but was like it was not getting good connection so I cleaned the terminal and then nothing. Is there a fuse in this circuit? It can only be the starter key switch or the neutral safety switch or a bad wire or fusable link possibly. What and how to check first to narrow this problem down.
Thanks, Brian
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
If you did a engine swap did you swap the trans also from a manual? That gets everyone. If the clutch system is taken out, then the neutral safety wiring that went to the clutch pedal will prevent it from starting. When people go to a manual, the neutral safety wiring on the automatic will keep it from starting.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,983
Likes: 2,736
From: Virginia
Take a peek at the slot where your turnsignal lever enters the column. If the slot is shaped like a tee, support the steering wheel and then gently push the lever toward the dash. The first truck I had did have tilt and I didn't know it for years till someone showed me how it worked.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 130
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Starter Relay
Hi Guys,
What I need is to know what color wire from the key switch and from the nuetral safety switch goes to the starter relay so I can check for power? What is the power path, I assume it goes they the key switch first then to the neutral safety switch then to the relay cortect?
Thanks, Brian
What I need is to know what color wire from the key switch and from the nuetral safety switch goes to the starter relay so I can check for power? What is the power path, I assume it goes they the key switch first then to the neutral safety switch then to the relay cortect?
Thanks, Brian
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From: Virginia
Here are the diagrams for starting. I picked a 7.3 diesel. Ford used red/lightblue for many years.
http://www.revbase.com/BBBMotor/Wd/DownloadPdf?id=7878
http://www.revbase.com/BBBMotor/Wd/DownloadPdf?id=7878
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