Starter problem....or maybe not?????
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 812
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From: Woodbridge NJ
Starter problem....or maybe not?????
Hey guys....I had alittle problem today starting my truck. I got in the truck and turned the key and.....CLICK! I turned the key back towards me and tried again...CLICK.
Now I'm sitting in the truck thinkin....man I just replaced my battery w/ a red top Optima.....that can't be it.
So I try it again. It starts up...HUH! I repeat this several times and it starts up every time. (Strong cranking power)
So I shut it down and pop the hood and start looking for loose battery cables, cable to the starter, and cable to the solenoid. All tight and no corrosion.
So now I'm thinking the starter is starting to crap out on me. It is the original starter. So I replace it. And it is still doing the same thing.
Any ideas? Maybe the solenoid is faulty.
P.S.
I cleaned all the connections and even ran a ground wire from the starter upper mounting bolt to the battery....just in case.
Now I'm sitting in the truck thinkin....man I just replaced my battery w/ a red top Optima.....that can't be it.
So I try it again. It starts up...HUH! I repeat this several times and it starts up every time. (Strong cranking power)
So I shut it down and pop the hood and start looking for loose battery cables, cable to the starter, and cable to the solenoid. All tight and no corrosion.
So now I'm thinking the starter is starting to crap out on me. It is the original starter. So I replace it. And it is still doing the same thing.
Any ideas? Maybe the solenoid is faulty.
P.S.
I cleaned all the connections and even ran a ground wire from the starter upper mounting bolt to the battery....just in case.
New User
Joined: Jan 2005
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mine did the same thing twice
mine did the same thing and i replaced the started. I knew it was the starter because i had my wife turn the key over while i tapped on the starter with a wrench and it started right up. a few months later it did it again. i knew it was the starter again so i checked the cables on the starter they werent finger lose so i put some grease on the (for contact purpose) and tighten them down again. havent had it since. its been several weeks now.
scott
scott
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 812
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From: Woodbridge NJ
I ordered a Echlin ignition solenoid switch (Heavy duty) Part # ECHSTH403 from Napa for $22
Maybe this will work.
If not.........Do you think it could be the keylock cylinder assembly????
Maybe this will work.
If not.........Do you think it could be the keylock cylinder assembly????
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 33
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same thing happened to me after i installed a red top optima battery, first couple of turns i got nothing, a few minutes later my truck started right up. i also had a new starter installed a few months ago. i'm thinking it might be some corrosion farther up in the wires. my old battery started corroding the wires to my amp, cb and battery cables. when i installed the optima i never replaced the battery cables and just clipped the amp and cb wires shorter with new ends. i don't know..could be a possibility though
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Woodbridge NJ
Thanks for all the replies guys!
Well, I replaced the fender mounted starter sol. today.
No problems yet.....but I only started the truck approx. 5-6 times. I'll give it a full run tomorrow.
Wish me luck!
Jerry D.
Well, I replaced the fender mounted starter sol. today.
No problems yet.....but I only started the truck approx. 5-6 times. I'll give it a full run tomorrow.
Wish me luck!
Jerry D.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,420
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From: Langhorne, PA
Two times, I had that problem with my 92XLT. the first was fixed by the dealer because of my warranty. Every so often, say every two to three weeks or whenever, I turned the key and click..click. I took it in expecting to need a new solenoid and starter,but when I went over to the dealer to pick it up the service tech brings the entire positive (red) wire harness to me claiming my harness was bad. I said fine thanks, see ya...That fixed that. I don't know exactly why the harness failed but the intermittant problem stopped happening. The second time it happened was after a hard crash of my OEM starter. I made the major mistake of putting a Pep Boys starter on the engine, that starter lasted about two weeks before going to "click click" mode. My mechanic troubleshot the system, because I was basically stumped why my new starter wasn't working and he said the Pep Boys starter was bad. We threw in a new Ford OEM starter and it has been fine ever since.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Rockfield, KY
I had the exact same problem with my 96. I replaced the solenoid and it didn't fix it so I cleaned all the battery connections, that seemed to fix it for a while but then it started up again. I replaced both battery cables and the starter and that fixed it. Of course I don't know what fixed it but I did not like being stranded so I went all out. I felt like it was the starter but the cables were pretty sorry.
Just a heads up, the positive cable is a dealer only item and it was around $75, the negative is also a dealer only item and I can't remember how much it was but it was a lot more than the positive. I pieced together a negative cable from two new cables and bought the positive.
Just a heads up, the positive cable is a dealer only item and it was around $75, the negative is also a dealer only item and I can't remember how much it was but it was a lot more than the positive. I pieced together a negative cable from two new cables and bought the positive.
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Woodbridge NJ
Well, I gave the truck a good few days of everyday driving and starting and stopping in the cold weather and so far so good!
I guess the new starter and solenoid and cleaning all the connections did the trick.
Thanks again!
Once again you guys saved me from bringing the truck to the shop.
I guess the new starter and solenoid and cleaning all the connections did the trick.
Thanks again!
Once again you guys saved me from bringing the truck to the shop.