starter solinoid?
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Senior User
Joined: May 2003
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From: Bryan Texas
starter solinoid?
I was starting my 85 300 that had been sitting for about 2 weeks and for thexas it was very cold and the truck dint want to start cranked but didnt get enough gas then it qiut cranking and the solinoid clicked but wouldnt start so i thought i killed the battery swaped out of the truck i was driving sme thing could . tryed to jump the trminals and still wont crank could it be solinoid or starter? thanks 
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Kelowna, BC
Howdy pardner
Hey, I've got an 85 300 as well, and from what you described, it sure could be one or both, or even the battery getting too cold. When my starter went, it got really hard to turn the engine over and I thought the battery was low and tried to get it jumped. I also got that clickity clickity sound. Until I replaced the starter with one from the junkyard, I had to rollstart it to get it going. Wasn't so bad when I could park facing downhill, but I must've looked kinda funny pushing my own truck across the parking lot and hopping in to pop the clutch and rollstart it. I guess at least I can do it myself without anyone else (insert Tim Allen grunts).
But anyways, the truck has started acting up in the same way as when the starter went before, but since it's winter, I figure I'd try bringing in my battery overnight so it doesn't freeze out there. We'll see if it makes a difference, but it still could be a crappy starter. Oh, if only we had covered heated parking.. hrmph
Hey, I've got an 85 300 as well, and from what you described, it sure could be one or both, or even the battery getting too cold. When my starter went, it got really hard to turn the engine over and I thought the battery was low and tried to get it jumped. I also got that clickity clickity sound. Until I replaced the starter with one from the junkyard, I had to rollstart it to get it going. Wasn't so bad when I could park facing downhill, but I must've looked kinda funny pushing my own truck across the parking lot and hopping in to pop the clutch and rollstart it. I guess at least I can do it myself without anyone else (insert Tim Allen grunts).
But anyways, the truck has started acting up in the same way as when the starter went before, but since it's winter, I figure I'd try bringing in my battery overnight so it doesn't freeze out there. We'll see if it makes a difference, but it still could be a crappy starter. Oh, if only we had covered heated parking.. hrmph
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Senior User
Joined: May 2003
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From: Bryan Texas
i fixed it tryed new sloinoid then pulled starter both checked good but noticed on install that battery cables were stiff and crunchy changed out and fixed it . last dec was the rolling start month bad batterys from walmart and an alt that overcharged cuased me to park uphill for a couple of weeks , rolling and jumping in is nt as bad a pushing your truck up hill to try again
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 31
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From: Kelowna, BC
hehehe, the rollstart month. 
Well, I fixed my problem today too, it wasn't the starter or the solenoid. I overlooked an obvious place to start troubleshooting. Connectivity! My battery posts were corroded and so it wasn't getting the juice through or grounding right. I kept getting the clickity clickity noises like how it sounded when the starter was out before. I didn't have my post brush with me so I carefully shaved off the post and clamp surfaces with my exacto, and presto! My truck came to life.
I guess I learned something valuable today. Never overlook the obvious and the small stuff.
Glad to hear you're rollin again!
AE
Well, I fixed my problem today too, it wasn't the starter or the solenoid. I overlooked an obvious place to start troubleshooting. Connectivity! My battery posts were corroded and so it wasn't getting the juice through or grounding right. I kept getting the clickity clickity noises like how it sounded when the starter was out before. I didn't have my post brush with me so I carefully shaved off the post and clamp surfaces with my exacto, and presto! My truck came to life.
I guess I learned something valuable today. Never overlook the obvious and the small stuff.
Glad to hear you're rollin again!
AE
Last edited by kyuss; Dec 22, 2004 at 05:10 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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Glad you got it fixed, but the solenoid is just about the worst made part on a ford truck, never hurts to have a spare in the glove box.(only $6-$10 bucks at parts stores, but at off-road shaps they sell 'em for $30 as "winch solenoids" 
