Truck won't start
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,862
Likes: 5
From: Beachville, Ontario
Truck won't start
In 48 hours both my trucks have quit. The 79 lost a rod bearing and now the 87 won't start.
When I go to start, click-click like dead battery. Booster cables to other battery, same thing. Sometimes lights on truck go out like poor connection. Not dim, out. Put cable between battery ground & engine block, will crank but too slow to start and cable gets warm. Problem is not the starter, I replaced it and the same problem exists.
I think there is either a short or a poor connection somewhere. Where should I start looking?
1979 F150 Custom: 84 351W: 91 heads, Crane PowerMax cam, double roller timing chain, Edelbrock Performer intake & Edelbrock carb
1987 F150 XLT Lariat: 88 351W EFI
86 & 87 Bronco II: next winter's beater
When I go to start, click-click like dead battery. Booster cables to other battery, same thing. Sometimes lights on truck go out like poor connection. Not dim, out. Put cable between battery ground & engine block, will crank but too slow to start and cable gets warm. Problem is not the starter, I replaced it and the same problem exists.
I think there is either a short or a poor connection somewhere. Where should I start looking?
1979 F150 Custom: 84 351W: 91 heads, Crane PowerMax cam, double roller timing chain, Edelbrock Performer intake & Edelbrock carb
1987 F150 XLT Lariat: 88 351W EFI
86 & 87 Bronco II: next winter's beater
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 601
Likes: 1
From: South Sioux City, NE USA
Truck won't start
Start with the Positive battery cable, then work your way to the starter. It sounds like one of the cables has broken inside the insulation. Either that, or the starter relay (thing on the fenderwell) is bad.
Roger Lane
Test Analyst
Sr. Automated Test Engineer
IBP, Inc.
Roger Lane
Test Analyst
Sr. Automated Test Engineer
IBP, Inc.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,862
Likes: 5
From: Beachville, Ontario
Truck won't start
Is there a way I can check the resistance or some other test for the positive cables to see if they're broken down?
1979 F150 Custom: 84 351W: 91 heads, Crane PowerMax cam, double roller timing chain, Edelbrock Performer intake & Holley carb
1987 F150 XLT Lariat: 88 351W EFI
86 & 87 Bronco II: next winter's beater
1979 F150 Custom: 84 351W: 91 heads, Crane PowerMax cam, double roller timing chain, Edelbrock Performer intake & Holley carb
1987 F150 XLT Lariat: 88 351W EFI
86 & 87 Bronco II: next winter's beater
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 1
From: Rural Florida Panhandle
Truck won't start
Sounds like you're getting warm to the problem with connecting the booster cable to ground-battery. The booster cable can't come close to carrying the current of a good battery cable.
You probably have a bad ground cable from your battery, or a bad connection. The fact that your booster cable improved the situation, and got warm proves that you have a high resistance GROUND, not positive.
Check the negative cable all the way to the bolt on the engine block where it should be connected. It may be loose.
Hope this helps.
Winford
You probably have a bad ground cable from your battery, or a bad connection. The fact that your booster cable improved the situation, and got warm proves that you have a high resistance GROUND, not positive.
Check the negative cable all the way to the bolt on the engine block where it should be connected. It may be loose.
Hope this helps.
Winford
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,862
Likes: 5
From: Beachville, Ontario
Truck won't start
Thanks for the help guys. The problem is a poor connection between the cable and the clamp which goes on the battery post in the ground cable. Temporary solution? Use booster cables between battery & engine when I need to start truck to get to & from work.
Thanks again.
1979 F150 Custom: 84 351W: 91 heads, Crane PowerMax cam, double roller timing chain, Edelbrock Performer intake & Edelbrock carb
1987 F150 XLT Lariat: 88 351W EFI
86 & 87 Bronco II: next winter's beater
Thanks again.
1979 F150 Custom: 84 351W: 91 heads, Crane PowerMax cam, double roller timing chain, Edelbrock Performer intake & Edelbrock carb
1987 F150 XLT Lariat: 88 351W EFI
86 & 87 Bronco II: next winter's beater
