I've got a 78 F250 4x4 Ranger XLT with a rebuilt 460 from an 87. It's been sitting in my driveway in the rain since November. When I went to start it up yesterday it wouldn't crank. I don't know jack about working on these things yet, but I was going to try to put a new starter in cause I don't know what else to do. I was hoping someone might be able to tell me if that's a good idea or not.

Here's some more info:

I checked the battery, cleaned the posts, etc, and it is all good. All of the lights (headlights, gauge lights, dash lights, etc) work fine. When I turn the key it just doesn't crank. If I hold the key in the start position for a while and give it some gas it sort of buzzes & clicks, but no cranking.

Also, it was REALLY wet inside the truck. It had been shut up for over two months, and I'm in Seattle, so it's pretty humid. When I opened it up yesterday for the first time the ceiling was covered with water. Big drops of condensation everywhere.

Last Fall, when I would drive the truck regularly there would be a really, really short delay between turning the key and the engine cranking. If I didn't start it for a couple of weeks the delay would be longer. No noise, just dead slience and the bam, it would crank right up with authority. I don't know if that's a clue or not.

Anyways, if anyone has any ideas about what the problem might be or has any tricks or advice I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

 

Make sure all connections on battery cables are clean and tight. Especially at the battery and the ground wire to engine. Did you try jumping it with jumper cables? Use a test light/ volt meter and test for power at the starter while the key is in 'start' position. If connections are good, power goes to starter and jumping doesn't help. I'd say the starter is bad.

Marty

 

Do the lights dim when you hit the starter? Do you have a volt meter to check for 11.5v or more at the battery?

 

I did check the battery connections. I cleaned them up, although they looked fine already. I didn't try jumping it because the battery seemed good, and it is in a REALLY bad spot to try to get any cables.

I don't have a volt meter. Are they pretty cheap? I can't check right now, but I'm almost sure that the lights did NOT dim when I turned the key.

If it is the starter, how hard is it to replace? Do I need any expensive tools? I'm pretty good at figuring stuff out, but I don't have any experience.

 

Volt meters are cheap and can be had at Walmart or Radio Shack or a similar type store. If you can, get a digital one that also checks resistance (ohms).

A starter is fairly easy to replace. It can be done with standard hand tools. Socket set and/or wrenches.

Marty

 

sounds like the starter solenoid is faulty, its the little box the positive wire from the battery goes to, it is what tells the starter to crank when you turn the ignition.....its only about 15 bucks at any parts store......just be sure to take notes on where the wires connect.........takes about 15 minutes to change........

 

Cool. Thanks a lot.

 

BEFORE you go about swaping the starter make sure if its an automatic tranny make sure its in park, when it is try to start it and wiggle your shifter and see if your nuetral safety switch isnt bad first. could save you money time and temper!

 

good point check the nss on the lower steering colum if it is open the starter circuit won't activate make sure it is in n or p and adjust it as needed

 

it was in park. i also tried it in neutral. how would i be able to tell if it is the nuetral safety switch? what behavior would i be looking for?

 

well if its the nuetral switch then it wont start but everything else will work like it should the switch is mainly so you cant start it in gear and run the truck thrugh a wall or anything. now im not sure where the switch is but i beleive its on the colum somewhere

 

Before buying a new starter or starter solenoid, try this: first make sure the truck is in neutral and the brake is on. Try to start the truck, if all you hear is clicking. It could be a low battery or a bad solenoid.

Next, jump the solenoid to see if the engine will crank. The solenoid can be jumped as follows: using the handles of an un-insulated pair of pliers, touch the handles to the large copper posts on each side of the solenoid. Make the connection quickly to reduce the amount of sparks that fly. The starter should crank, if so, the solenoid is the problem. If not, the battery, wires, or starter could be bad. If the idea of sparks flying scares you, most Autozones and Advanced auto part stores will test the starter for free. But you have to take the starter out to do so.

Write back and let us know what you find.
John24255

 

I was all set to pull the starter out and take it down to be tested, but i tried to start it one more time and noticed that the lights DEFINITELY dimmed. I don't know why I hadn't noticed before, maybe because it was dark this time. Anyways, I pulled the battery out and had them test that instead. They charged it up for me and I'm back on the road. Glad I didn't start pulling the wrong things out.

Thanks for all your help. It helped and a learned a lot.