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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Really Strange Problem

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Old Sep 1, 2004 | 08:55 PM
  #1  
GSchretter's Avatar
GSchretter
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From: Irving Texas
Really Strange Problem

87 f-150 302

1. New Starter
2. New Starter switch under the steering wheel
3. New Starter Solnoide (sp)
4. New Alt

I thought I fixed the problem but I was wrong.

I turn the key to the start position and the engine starts but the starter keeps turning.

I disconnect the - battery cable and everything stop. I hook it back up and I get two more starts and then I get the same problem again.

Any ideas?
 
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Old Sep 1, 2004 | 09:59 PM
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noogie102283
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Talking

make sure your seloniod is wired up correctly tightly and no shorts
 
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Old Sep 1, 2004 | 10:20 PM
  #3  
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EPNCSU2006
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,557
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From: Concord, NC
Make sure you have a very good quality starter solonoid (the thing on the fender). The solonoids are known to stick on these trucks, and a low quality one just magnifies the problem. My mechanic recommended getting a solonoid from an older mustang or something with the poles on opposite sides instead of on the same face because those are less prone to sticking.
 
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Old Sep 1, 2004 | 10:26 PM
  #4  
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mike L
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: va
switch your two main wires on your seliold . i switched mine by mistake when i installed a new one. I was doing the same thing yours is doing. Is yours an after market peice on mine the + cable from the battery goes to the starter relay (seliold) bolt towards the back of the truck. The ground bolt has one large wire The remaining small red wire goes to the top small bolt, cap bottom small bolt write back if this works

1987 f150 4.9/300
 

Last edited by mike L; Sep 1, 2004 at 10:34 PM.
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Old Sep 1, 2004 | 11:41 PM
  #5  
GSchretter's Avatar
GSchretter
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From: Irving Texas
Thanks for the help

1. Bought a Motorcraft brand solenoid- why did I not do that in the first place, I wish I knew.

2. Cleaned the screw that holds the solenoid on and ran another wire from that screw to another ground.

After trying to start my truck 4 times the battery was totally dead. It hit me, a grounding problem. Bad groud will cause a circuit to draw more amps.
More amp willi weld that solenoid together. Took the solenoid apart and guess what I saw.

Now if I even look at my key its starts. Actually the starter turns over for about 1/2 a second and the engine fires right up. Used to take two two second starts to her up and running. Not bad to 350,000 miles.

Here is the best part. Since I got my alt and starter and solenoid from O'reilly it was free since they all have a limited life time warranty.
I had to pay $5 more for the motorcraft solenoid.

Thanks again for your help.

In about two years, when I create a new post about this problem, please forward this thread to me.
Because it has been two years since I had this same problem.
 

Last edited by GSchretter; Sep 1, 2004 at 11:44 PM.
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Old Sep 2, 2004 | 12:09 AM
  #6  
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mike L
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: va
this is also my second after market solenoid next time ill go Motorcraft to
 
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