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Its been almost three weeks since I started the OX and all I got was a click. Checked my batteries which are only one year old Motorcraft and they were good. Cleaned the terminals for the heck of it and they were clean. Jumped the starter relay and it fired right up so I don't think its the starter. I then cleaned the starter relay terminals, tried again and didn't even get a click! I want to use it tomorrow so I'm at least glad it starts jumping the starter relay. Any thoughts? Thanks
If getting power to small wire when switch is turned to start it will not be the switch. If jumping the fender relay starts the truck it is probably the relay ( Starter Solenoid )
Really sounds like the fender relay failed. Mine went the same way... click but no crank. That seems to be a common failure mode.
If you got a "click", signal voltage is getting to at least the fender relay. Your ignition switch and park/neutral safety are working, otherwise no click at all when you turn key to start. The fender relay is the first thing that would "click".
I'm presuming that you jumped the fender relay to get it started? Since it did start, you know that everything downstream from wherever you jumped it is at least adequate. If you jumped the fender relay and it started, but got a click-but-no-start, I think you definitively isolated the problem. If you somehow jumped the starter directly, then there is some ambiguity of positive feed (not signal) to fender relay, fender relay, medium-amp positive output wiring and connection from fender relay to on-starter relay, on-starter relay, and possibly the cranking-amp positive feed to the starter. In that case, since it did start, you know your starter and grounds are good.
If getting power to small wire when switch is turned to start it will not be the switch. If jumping the fender relay starts the truck it is probably the relay ( Starter Solenoid )
Originally Posted by paddler
Really sounds like the fender relay failed. Mine went the same way... click but no crank. That seems to be a common failure mode.
If you got a "click", signal voltage is getting to at least the fender relay. Your ignition switch and park/neutral safety are working, otherwise no click at all when you turn key to start. The fender relay is the first thing that would "click".
I'm presuming that you jumped the fender relay to get it started? Since it did start, you know that everything downstream from wherever you jumped it is at least adequate. If you jumped the fender relay and it started, but got a click-but-no-start, I think you definitively isolated the problem. If you somehow jumped the starter directly, then there is some ambiguity of positive feed (not signal) to fender relay, fender relay, medium-amp positive output wiring and connection from fender relay to on-starter relay, on-starter relay, and possibly the cranking-amp positive feed to the starter. In that case, since it did start, you know your starter and grounds are good.
Thanks guys, I appreciate it. Yes I did start the truck by jumping the fender relay. First attempt I did get two or three clicks on two or three tries. But I never did check the small wire for juice and will try that. Its weird that after cleaning all the connections I didn't get a click? But I agree, I'll start by replacing the starter relay with a Motorcraft.
Relay can fail in a non-click way. No click does not necessarily mean that no signal is getting to the relay; you have to test for voltage. But if the relay clicks, you definitely know you have signal from the key and safeties. I suspect that cleaning connections jiggled the relay posts and made it fail "more"... now it doesn't even click... rather than doing something to the signal wire. I would replace the fender relay, and if it cranks, declare it fixed.
OK, sounds good. I ordered a Motorcraft from Reilly's, be here Tueday. I'm sure any other brand would work OK but I'm stuck on OEM! Tomorrow is just a short trip so I'll use the channel locks, lol.
My simple fix lasted four months. Its clicking again with all clean grounds and at the batteries. Not all the time but when it does I get out the channel locks and jump it at the relay on the fender. With a few threads going now about battery cables so I thought, what the hell, lets replace those, they are only 24 years old. I got the kit from custom battery cables and thought a two or three hour job. Ha, it was more involved then I thought but seems like a real quality kit. Question, is it normal for the starter solenoid on the starter to wiggle a little bit? Seems like I have experienced this in the past but can't remember for sure.
I have my starter out of the truck at my shop right now. It’s just over a year old. I’ll check mine and see if it’s got any play in it and let you know what I find on mine if that’s helps.
Just had my starter out,,, there was a wiggle to the solinoid.
Originally Posted by oldbird1965
OK, sounds good. I ordered a Motorcraft from Reilly's, be here Tueday. I'm sure any other brand would work OK but I'm stuck on OEM! Tomorrow is just a short trip so I'll use the channel locks, lol.
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