hello, again... i have a 81' ford 4x4 with 429 installed but never fired but the cab and front clip re from '84 or '85 , anyways i have starter n wires and battery all hooked up but i cant get the spark or anything , or the screwdriver relay on the starter solenoid.. nothing turns... but when i do it the " hot" but using piler to the hot and to starter it will but , not on the solenoid, so what problem am i having? i m doing a few wiring for the back up lights , braking i pretty got most of them, and the power window worked at first, for first time for me cuz it was swapped then it stopped working, then i pulled the motor and tested them they work fine, so what is it now ?? kinda two question here , what am i getting at solenoid? no spark or no relay, 4th solenoid i ve replaced all same problem... what am i doing wrong?

 

If I am not mistaken the 429's starter was internally energized.


Maybe someone else with a little better memory will come along.

 

what thats supposed to mean? i got thats starter from a 351M maybe off a 81's something like that, so u re suggesting i should try another starter??

 

I'm still thinking....

Surely someone here knows the difference.

(I'm stuck in the office right now, crazy4Fords - sort of like prison on a more stressed scale.)

I'm thinking another wire to the solenoid????

Okay, guys, jump in when you get a chance, here.

 

come on guys!!! i need this kind of help , i been looking at the wiring diagrams cant figure out why... i m trying get my motor running and get the Beast alive once again!! Havent started up the truck since rebuild, i m thinking either wiring , starter?? or ? or?? something s shorting it out?? cutting all the power to the starter solenoid? I cant sleep no more cuz of this , so help me here!!

 

Maybe you should post this down in the Electrical Systems/Wiring Forum.

Sorry, I just can't come up with an answer.

 

I'll help you if you don't yell at me!
All the solinoid is, is a switch.
It is connecting the battery input wire to the wire going down to the starter.
To energize this switch, you have to put 12 volts into the small terminal marked with an "S", this switch also has to be grounded by mounting it to the metal fender.
Some solinoids have an extra terminal marked with a "C"
This is a "backfeed" terminal to give a full 12 volts to the ignition coil during starter cranking to override the factory resistance wire feed to the coil.
This boosts ignition spark at start-up.
Your post is a bit confusing!
What do you mean by can't get the spark or anything?
What is "the screwdriver relay"?
When I do it "the hot" but using pliar to the hot and to starter it will but.
A few wiring to the back-up lights braking I pretty got most of them
What the heck are you talking about ???
Please slow down in your thinking and try to explain in a rational manner what you have done so far.
Keep in mind that the contributors to this forum do not owe you an answer!
Most of us got our education in automotive repair by opening the hood, not by running to the computer!
Steve G.

 

It's like 8Lugs said. The solenoid is nothing more than a switch that pulls in the high amp power to the starter. You need to make sure you are getting a good ground to the fender where the solenoid mounts. Then make sure you are really getting a 12 volt line to the S terminal. Check the ignition switch to make sure you are actually engaging the start. Remove the positive battery cable going to the solenoid and have someone turn the ignition switch. You should be able to hear the solenoid kick in. If it does then reconnect the battery cable and try to start. If it doesn't do anything then look for a bad battery cable or a bad cable to the starter. Take the starter out, go to the parts store and have them test it.

Come back hefre and tell us what you found. Even if it was something you missed before. A lot of people learn from this forum, so help out by finalizing your post.

 

If you have a start off a 351M, go to the parts store and get a solenoid from a 1980 F-250 with a 5.8L. I had the same thing happen when I used a 300-6 solenoid with a 351W. It just wouldn't work until I switched to the 351W one.. And I know the solenoid worked with the 300.