I have a 79 ford F-250 and when I start it in the morning it fires right up, no problems. I will drive to work (4.9 miles) and shut it down, and when I go to turn it over its almost like I have a dead battery which is not the case. I'm not sure if its the timing or the alternator. Any help would be greatly appreciated..

 

well, i doubt that its the alt, since the way it sounds, in the mornings it is fine, only after it is driven you have problems. i would check the timing, and take a look at fuel line routing....you never know, might have that dreaded vapor lock happening.

just my .02 though.

jamie

 

Do you have headers or aftermarket exhaust, my first guess would be that the starter motor is getting too hot or going out.

 

Oh yeah you might also want to check the starter solenoid.

 

Is the starter solenoid on the starter or on the fender? What gauge are your battery cables? Also, how long is it sitting after running before you try to start it again?

Some of the possibilities are...
- your starter is wearing out.
- your starter is overheating from your exhaust manifold (or headers)
- your battery is wearing out.


There's quite a bit of discussion about this issue in this forum. Just search for "starter." I'm going through a similar situation with my new old truck where I have found that it will start fine, I'll take it to Home Depot (or some other place) and after the the bed is loaded up I'll try to start and get that sinking feeling when it doesn't fire up right away and the starter barely cranks. I have done the following:

- charged the battery (haven't ruled out a weak battery...the alternator is providing enough current to charge: 14-15v while running, measured at battery).
- replaced the starter
- replaced the battery cables with good quality 2gauge wires (except for the solenoid to starter cable, which I replaced with a new 4gauge but will probably replace with a 2gauge).

Other things (as routine maintenance for a new old car):
- changed the oil/filter
- replaced the spark plugs (with pre-gapped Bosch Platinum)

Things still on my list:
- check and adjust the timing
- clean and check/adjust the carb.

In short, I think you'll find this is a common problem. But then I think a lot of these trucks have been through a lot of abuse (and lack of routine and proper maintenance) so it's no surprise.

With my new starter I have noticed that it does crank more freely whereas the old starter always sounded like it was going to kill itself if it didn't start the truck on the first turn.

I've definitely spent more time working on this truck than driving it during the three months that I've owned it. But then, it's a hobby and it makes you chuckle when members of the Toyota/BMW SUV crowd proclaim "I'd love to have a truck like that..."

 

To check if it's the timing, disconnect the wire to the coil to stop the spark. If it spins fine, timing could be the problem.

My 460 did the same thing - wouldn't turn over when it's warm. I pulled the coil wire and it spun like mad. Adjusted the timing and it starts fine every time now.

Kevin K.

 

good call kjkozak2, never thought of doing that, i will have to keep that in mind.

 

Now the truck will not even start I have all the lights but it will not start. So now I was wondering if maybe it was my starter solinoid and if so how would I be completely sure.

 

Take a hammer and tap on the starter while someone turns the key.

I got stuck in 3 feet of water while off-roading and the starter wouldn't even click after I got pulled out. I smacked it with a hammer a few times and it's been perfect ever since.

To see if you have power to the starter, put a test light on the terminal and have someone turn the key.

You could also pull the starter off and bench test it with a car battery and jumper cables. Just make sure you have a good grip on the starter.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Kevin K.

 

I'd be real careful with the old "hammer to the starter" trick. In alot of the newer starters, the magnets in it are mostly ceramic and can be broken this way. All you will have accomplished is to kill your starter altogether. IMHO, you are looking at either a bad solenoid, ignition switch, or your starter has overheated so many times that is has deteriorated and died. You can test the switch by checking signal voltage at the solenoid and then check solenoid function by checking voltage on the wire to the starter when you operate the switch. Once these items are verified to be functioning, you then would most likely want to get a new starter. If you have aftermarket exhaust, you need to shield the starter to protect it from overheating and you should have no more problems. I would recommend getting a new solenoid anyway if you replace the starter even if the other one is working as this will help prevent further problems down the line and is fairly low cost.

 

You got a set of jumper cables and another car? hook up the ground to the block and touch the positive side to the cable that you disconnect from the solenoid for the starter, if it crank's over the motor fine it is the solenoid or battery. If it does not crank the motor over and you have good connection's it sound's like the starter is drawing to much and it is no good.

Simple and easy way to test.

 

77’ f100 Ranger XLT,
As you can tell by the responses you received, this is not a difficult problem to solve, but too many things to consider with the information provided.

This is probably not the problem, but it would be the first thing I would do, and that is to check the condition of your electrical connectors. Disconnect then and clean if necessary with sandpaper. Don’t forget the ground wire connection from the battery to the block!

Now, back to troubleshooting. When you try to start the vehicle do you hear the starter relay click? If not, make sure you put the truck in neutral, and disconnect the spark plug wire going from the coil to the distributor. Next, jump the relay with a set of un-insulated pliers, placing the handles from one large post to the other. If the motor cranks, it’s the relay. If you do hear the click, and the above does nothing, the relay is probably OK, and the problem is either the starter or the timing.

With the spark plug wire mentioned above still disconnected, try starting the truck again, if it cranks, its most likely the timing. Set the timing and try again with the spark plug wire on. If it still won’t crank with the wire disconnected, remove the starter and have it tested.

Please write back and let me know what you find.

Best of luck,
John24255

 

What in God's green earth has the timing to do with whether the starter will crank the motor over? Am I missing something here or wouldn't the timing only affect whether the engine caught and ran after the starter motor engaged? If the engine is turning over and over and over and you know that the fuel flow is good and there is spark from the coil, then I would look at the timing.

Please let me know if I missed something crucial in internal cumbustion engine theory that day I skipped class

Ray

 

It would cause the starter to drag because if it is too far advanced, the plug fires while the piston is trying to come up and creates too much cylinder pressure for the starter to turn the engine. This condition may have burned up the starter motor.

 

Well so far as I have found out I had a bad alt. which I why my batter has been going bad. The second part of my problem is timing and I will address them next. All your help has been much help.