Hello all,

I got this rather interesting problem with my ’88 Bronco II. What happens is when I turn the ignition key to start the engine, a relay clicking sound can be heard. It’s exactly the same symptom/sound as when the batter terminal is corroded. In my case that is not true. What happens after trying to star the engine, everything in the car including the dash, dome light etc goes dim or sometimes off completely. My radio dies too. Any other time I try to start the car same thing happens, even if you take they keys out of the key cylinder and back again. The interesting part is that if I take the positive battery terminal off and put it back on, everything is “reset” i.e. lights are on, dashboard is lit up etc. Its kind of like computers, you shut if off and it fixes itself. Problem is I can’t start the car at all. Furthermore, when I disconnect the starter from the relay and turn the key to start position everything works fine, the lights don’t go off. I thought it might be a starter itself causing all of the problems, but if you think about it, the relay should automatically disconnect it when the key is backed off in the key cylinder, not when I disconnect the battery. Does anyone know what the problem might be?? I know its sounds simple at first but…..

Thanks

Tom

 

Have you looked into the solenoid sticking on which will keep the starter engaged, or the 12v to the solenoid from the ignition switch doing the same, AND the battery being low on charge so the truck is not cranking/starting.

 

I just pulled the starter out of the truck. Connected via jumper cables to the relay switch and tried to fake start the car. Starter worked and nothing happened, i.e. lights didn’t go out. Now I though it may have been the battery too. I used another battery from a different car and I had the same problem. When I did this the starter was still in the truck.

With your remark to the solenoid sticking, shouldn’t the starter relay cut the power off to it when the key is released and therefore “restoring” the power to lights etc? After all there are no other cables going to it besides the one that goes through the relay.

 

Keep in mind that there was no load on the starter out of the truck but the other battery should eliminate this. How are teh cables/connections?

If the ignition switch is bad it wouldn't. Pull the little wire off the solenoid when it happens, and with the key off there shouldn't be any power.

 

Starter solenoid? and load test battery. Autozone can help you.

 

Thanks guys for your help. I checked everything and I couldn’t find the problem. After all of that I took the starter apart, I got the starter from wreckers about half a year ago, and what do I see? The commutator was run down to nothing. The solenoid contact on top was burnet out. On top of that, the brushes were almost gone. Furthermore, the previous truck that had that starter must have been leaking oil and a lot of it got in to it. The whole thing inside was covered in rust, grime and oil sludge. I stack my old one back into it after doing some minor electrical repair and I have no problem what so ever. The only thing is still puzzling me is why would that help?

Thanks

Tom