won't start
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
won't start
Hi,
i have an 85 f150 straight six 300. Im having an issue with the truck not starting. i replaced the starter solenoid and nothing, i turn the switch and hear nothing. i hook up the old solenoid that was sometimes working and it does nothing either. Battery is charged and when i check the small wire that hooks on the solenoid i get the 12.34 the battery is showing. i think this is the 12 volts from the switch.
not sure what else to check?
Thanks
i have an 85 f150 straight six 300. Im having an issue with the truck not starting. i replaced the starter solenoid and nothing, i turn the switch and hear nothing. i hook up the old solenoid that was sometimes working and it does nothing either. Battery is charged and when i check the small wire that hooks on the solenoid i get the 12.34 the battery is showing. i think this is the 12 volts from the switch.
not sure what else to check?
Thanks
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,935
Likes: 4,123
From: Angier, NC
First welcome to FTE.
So you are getting lights and when not when you turn the key to on but when turned to start nothing happens.
You checked the small wire on the "S" stud of the solenoid and when key turned to start you get 12+ volts, if so that is good.
What if you were to jump from the battery pos to that small "S" lug on the solenoid what happens? MAKE SURE truck is not in gear!
If nothing when you do this check for volts on the large stud with the cable going to the starter. If still nothing then I would say bed solenoid.
Might be a good time to change the battery cables for new ones and clean all the grounds.
Dave ----
So you are getting lights and when not when you turn the key to on but when turned to start nothing happens.
You checked the small wire on the "S" stud of the solenoid and when key turned to start you get 12+ volts, if so that is good.
What if you were to jump from the battery pos to that small "S" lug on the solenoid what happens? MAKE SURE truck is not in gear!
If nothing when you do this check for volts on the large stud with the cable going to the starter. If still nothing then I would say bed solenoid.
Might be a good time to change the battery cables for new ones and clean all the grounds.
Dave ----
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Thanks Dave,
i jumped from the plus side of the battery to the S lug with a wire and still nothing. i bought a new positive cable still nothing. I'll clean the ground cable that goes to the tranny tomorrow.
Something unusual, the other day, i got it cranked and it looked like sparks was shooting from the solenoid, so i changed it to this one. I've tried the old one again and nothing. Sound like a ground issue, so maybe after i clean the ground tomorrow i check it again.
i jumped from the plus side of the battery to the S lug with a wire and still nothing. i bought a new positive cable still nothing. I'll clean the ground cable that goes to the tranny tomorrow.
Something unusual, the other day, i got it cranked and it looked like sparks was shooting from the solenoid, so i changed it to this one. I've tried the old one again and nothing. Sound like a ground issue, so maybe after i clean the ground tomorrow i check it again.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,935
Likes: 4,123
From: Angier, NC
Thanks Dave,
i jumped from the plus side of the battery to the S lug with a wire and still nothing. i bought a new positive cable still nothing. I'll clean the ground cable that goes to the tranny tomorrow.
Something unusual, the other day, i got it cranked and it looked like sparks was shooting from the solenoid, so i changed it to this one. I've tried the old one again and nothing. Sound like a ground issue, so maybe after i clean the ground tomorrow i check it again.
i jumped from the plus side of the battery to the S lug with a wire and still nothing. i bought a new positive cable still nothing. I'll clean the ground cable that goes to the tranny tomorrow.
Something unusual, the other day, i got it cranked and it looked like sparks was shooting from the solenoid, so i changed it to this one. I've tried the old one again and nothing. Sound like a ground issue, so maybe after i clean the ground tomorrow i check it again.
On my 81 with a 300 that ground cable going to the " top starter bolt" also has a tab / lug that goes to a bolt on the frame rail, that's the frame ground.
Now that we have the frame & motor / trans grounded let ground the body. On the left side of the motor there should be a heavy gauge wire, I used 10 ga. going from motor to firewall, this is the body ground.
There is a braided wire from firewall to hood over on the right side.
Note the solenoid needs to be grounded to the fender so a good body ground is needed and where it bolts to is clean.
Dave ----
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,178
Likes: 1,174
Kinda sounds like the fender itself is not well grounded. For a quick test, connect a jumper between the starter relay housing and the battery's (-) terminal. See if that makes any difference.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,935
Likes: 4,123
From: Angier, NC
My work truck still smells like the land fill and I have hosed it off 3 times now.
Good to hear you got the truck working again and was an easy fix.
And thanks for letting us know as it may help others if they come across this post.
Dave ----
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Thanks Dave,
i'm having a little bogging now. i'll change the plugs and check the timing. it seems like the timing isn't right. It's a 3 speed with od, and when i'm going from first to second it's pretty slugest. i'll change the fuel filter while i'm at it, but it doesn't seem like a fuel issue.
The truck is an 85 300 one barrel. i have the timing at 10, how much can i increase it.
Barry
i'm having a little bogging now. i'll change the plugs and check the timing. it seems like the timing isn't right. It's a 3 speed with od, and when i'm going from first to second it's pretty slugest. i'll change the fuel filter while i'm at it, but it doesn't seem like a fuel issue.
The truck is an 85 300 one barrel. i have the timing at 10, how much can i increase it.
Barry
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,935
Likes: 4,123
From: Angier, NC
Sleep I am lucky if I can get 4 hours before I am out the door for work again.
I am up any where between 12am and 3am, jump in the shower and out the door.
Getting home between 5pm and 8pm, make my lunch for the next day and depending how I feel may have dinner or go straight to bed.
Does not make the wife happy the hours I keep but its a job and I am the only one working at this time.
I drive a trailer truck, 25 to 26 tons of powdered cement to plants or 10,000 gallons of LP gas to bulk plants.
Just kidding on the half days we all have to do what we have to right?
Dave ----
I am up any where between 12am and 3am, jump in the shower and out the door.
Getting home between 5pm and 8pm, make my lunch for the next day and depending how I feel may have dinner or go straight to bed.
Does not make the wife happy the hours I keep but its a job and I am the only one working at this time.
I drive a trailer truck, 25 to 26 tons of powdered cement to plants or 10,000 gallons of LP gas to bulk plants.
Just kidding on the half days we all have to do what we have to right?
Dave ----
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,178
Likes: 1,174
You call that tough? Why, I have to get up before bedtime! Dinner was a dry lump of poison...
(Thanks for the great set-up, BTW)