Starter blues
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3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Starter blues
Not sure if I'm doing this right. But here it goes. 91 f150 4.9. I crank my truck and one out of five time the starter engages. It always spins but intermittently engages. Brand new battery, fender mounted relay, ground wire and clean all other connections.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 5,221
Likes: 805
If your connections ARE good, then the part of the starter that kicks out, the bendix, is not working right. I would advise upgrading to the PMGR starters from like 93/94 + 4.9 and being done with it. They are smaller, last longer, and are better at cranking over.
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,872
Likes: 2,445
I believe it. Three bad reman p/s pumps from Napa. First didn’t have any pressure. The next two were louder than my old leaking pump. They wouldn’t warranty the third one. Basically told me is was “normal” and to live with it.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,263
Likes: 92
From: BC Canada
You may have low voltage to the starter, perform a voltage drop test on the main starter feed cable..
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 47
Likes: 17
From: On a Dirt Road in BFE
Then let me help you out with that…YOU CAN GET MULTIPLE BAD ONES IN A ROW…
All kidding aside unless you absolutely positively gotta with out an excuse have to have it today dont get inexpensive no name electrical parts from the box stores. Do yourself a favor and get a quality brand name from a place like Rock Auto. Motorcraft, Bosch, Delco. While the box stories may have a lifetime guarantee….you will spend a lifetime doing them.
All kidding aside unless you absolutely positively gotta with out an excuse have to have it today dont get inexpensive no name electrical parts from the box stores. Do yourself a favor and get a quality brand name from a place like Rock Auto. Motorcraft, Bosch, Delco. While the box stories may have a lifetime guarantee….you will spend a lifetime doing them.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,533
Likes: 2,661
From: Near Salt Lake City
Bench test the starter you have now
Buddy of mine, his Jeep just clicked, he replaced the starter and it still just clicked
Got me over there to look it over
Found the engine seized by the failed A/C compressor hub bearing froze up
Noticed the belt was loading on his and the crank was turning about a quarter of an inch each time we tried it
So, if your starter bench test fails, get another one
Put a wrench on that crank bolt and spin the engine before you get too far into it
Buddy of mine, his Jeep just clicked, he replaced the starter and it still just clicked
Got me over there to look it over
Found the engine seized by the failed A/C compressor hub bearing froze up
Noticed the belt was loading on his and the crank was turning about a quarter of an inch each time we tried it
So, if your starter bench test fails, get another one
Put a wrench on that crank bolt and spin the engine before you get too far into it
FTE Community Team
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 8,860
Likes: 4,271
From: sussex county, nj
with above about bench testing, simple but tells the truth, another item i would look at when it's next out,
since it's a 4.9 pull the spark plugs, have someone using a socket and bar turn that motor over while you CLOSILY look at the starter ring gear, look for damaged teeth if it has any you will be pulling the trans to replace either the ring gear if it's a stick or the flex plate.if it's a auto trans.
since it's a 4.9 pull the spark plugs, have someone using a socket and bar turn that motor over while you CLOSILY look at the starter ring gear, look for damaged teeth if it has any you will be pulling the trans to replace either the ring gear if it's a stick or the flex plate.if it's a auto trans.
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