I have a motorhme that's was built using a 1992 E-350 cut a way VAN

The engines a 460 cu in. - Wiki shows the Powertrain Ford 385 V8 7.5 L (460 cu in) OHV V8 1992–1996

It does incorporate some wiring and relays for house battery and charging however I beleive it's ignition should be the same as any 92 E-350 with the V8 7.5L engine and 4-speed automatic transmision.

AFAIK the transmission is a 4-speed E4OD automatic, there is an overdrive button or switch on somewhere on the steering column.

The motorhome van has approx. . 55,000 miles and when was being used on the road the engine and trans mission worked very good, engine sounded really great, etc.

However the E-350 been sitting being used as a motorhome for approx. that last 10 years and has been only started a few times while sitting in one spot.

I need to move it approx. five miles to another location and when I went to start it up nothing. All I can here is a single click when the ign. key is turned to start. The sound seems to be coming from above the engine near the battery on the drivers side of the engine compartment.

The battery is fully charge but it's a group 31 with only 600 CCA where the E-350 460 V8 uses a group 65 and approx. 750-850 CCAs.

I tried another battery grpup 34 Optima that has 750 CCA however even though it works great it's approx. 11 years old.

I'm trying to determine if there is a relay that controls the ign. wire to the starter and solenoid. Because the signle click doesn't seem to be coming from the starter or solenoid. But then again perhaps I'm wrong and it is the starter and/or starter solenoid.

 

I would try a fresher, known good battery. If you still get a click try giving the starter a few knocks with a hammer. Even when you get it to turn over you have a lot of work ahead of you. I wouldn't even attempt to fire it up with that old gas in it.

 

I was going for some newer gas, siphoning out the old gas.

However I'm only planning on moving five miles and not going on the road with it. I think if I could convert it into a trailer I would.

I think I'l do some preventaive maintenance on it in case it needs to be moved again. I'm not certain what you mean by "you have a lot of work ahead of you".

I purchased it from the original owner and the motor home including engine and transmission have only 55,000 miles on it. The major problem is I live in the PNW where rust and corrosion is a problem. I think I'll need to let it rust and try to keep it so it's starts so I can move it a short distance. Or else I'll need to higher a tow truck each time it needs to be moved.

I't a hundred dollars for a battery or a hundred dollars for a tow.

 

I usually have good luck with a jump if my problem is just a battery but maybe it's parked where you can't get at it? 10 years is a long time, the terminals and wiring ends often need to be cleaned up really well, corrosion can really work its way between the strands of wire if the terminals have been re-worked with this type:


I rarely find clean cable ends under that plate & 2 bolts, after taking it apart and going at it with a wire brush I try to dip the bared strands of the cable in a baking soda solution when I restore these type terminals that have been idle for many years, then dielectric grease on the cable before re-assembly, then your favorite treatment on the posts.

 

When my '92 e-350 with 460 did this it was the starter solenoid. I think it was on the drivers side near the radiator support. Just follow the positive wire from the battery to it. They are the usual culprit.

 

When I hit this issue, I found that it was Cables and/or connection points.

My Solution:

• Clean Battery terminals and connector.
• Clean Contact points at Solenoid.
• Clean Hotwire and mount point at the Starter.
• Check and double check the ground
• MNke sure terminal connectors are solid

More often than not I find that it is the Ground terminal that is all gummed up or a slightly loose battery terminal. Ford is very picky about wanting all of your battery.

This has corrected about 90% of all issues I have come across. There is a possibility of a stuck solenoid, but I am a cheap S.o.B. so I start with the things that are affordable.
Generally cleaning cables, terminals and mount points are affordable. assuming you have a small wire brush/Terminal brush and a small set of proper sized Sockets and/or wrenches around.

As a last possibility, if the battery has been hooked up these past ten years, it could be that the battery has sulfated enough that it is limited in its charge holding capability. It may appear fully charged, but it is only capable of full charge for a short moment. You could try with a jump, but I would venture to say that that battery has probably had its time.
Batteries over the last 30 years are not like the Interstate's that our fathers used to buy (And getting worse) :/

 

I've had stuff stored in the front cab for quite a while. Since I wasn't driving the E-350 motor-home I haven't had the interior motor cover open in a long while.

After opening discovered a fairly large mouse nest that appeared hadn't been a home for quite a while (also found a dead rat carcass). Lots of grass twigs, etc. on top of tne engine surrounding what appears to be a large intake, perhaps turbo? I'm not yet all that familiar with the engine.

But anyway I'm just trying to get it to start, so it can be moved five miles and uncertain of what sort of damage the mice may have done. They can eat through wires, vacuum hoses, etc.

I found a solenoid relay in front of the battery that connects to the ignition, battery and another large wire going toward the rear somewhere.

The wires to the solenoid appear to be in good shape. I found a yellow wire, when connected to pos+ on a battery the igition lights would come on, turning to start I can still here the single click. So it appears the problem may be the starter and/or solenoid which I haven't found yet.

I haven't yet tried to jack the RV up in the front with my two ton floor jack so I'm not really certain exactly where the starter is located. Unable to see with the engine cover off so apparently I'm gong to need to jack up the front end to access as there's not enough room for me to slide around underneath.