I'm new here and new to muh 1980 F150 4x4, it has a 351m in it.
Anyway, I'm having trouble with it starting.

First off, I replaced the brake booster and ever since then I have had problems, the brake lights do not come on when I press the brake. I was very very careful while putting it in. There are only 2 wires attached to the brake sensor which are intact. I mean, the sensor is one lousy cotter pin to remove it.

More importantly, I think I have a drain on the battery all of a sudden. I was driving it for a day and all of a sudden BOOM it will not start!! So... of course, I replace the solenoid.

NO DICE!

I then put in a new starter "maybe the bad solenoid cooked the starter..."

NO DICE!!

Now it's the 50 billion wires with all of 6 fuses. Why are there so many wires for 6 lousy fuses?

SO, of course I start cleaning the eyelet contacts, first being the ground off of the battery.

NOTHING..................

Does anyone have an idea?

Is there some sort of ground that drains the battery whithin' the "brake booster replacement"?? I say it drains the battery cause I jumped the solenoid with jumper cables and it seems bogged down like the battery is dead/dying but I can still start it.

Hmmm... maybe I bought a bad solenoid? NOPE! I bought one before replacing the starter and one after the starter.

Tonight, I finally went out to sand every damn eyelet contact and still nothing... So, I jump the solenoid again and it started very slow on a brand new battery which I use in my car every day fine. (bought it a couple weeks ago and it works fine in the car) So, I let it run for a while to charge it to see if the alternator is spent. WOW, now it kicks over when it's warmed up and charged.

Tonight, the neg terminal is unplugged to see if it'll start in the morning.

I like to work on stuff but hate not having a clue to what's going on.

If anyone has a clue please help me. I looked around for a while tonight to find a Chilton's or Haynes to get a wiring/fuse-block diagram but couldn't find one

Thanks,
Brian.

 

You can connect a jumper wherever you think there is a bad connection. For instance from pos+ to solenoid, etc. That will eliminate any bad connection that may be present. My GUESS is that you knocked something loose by accident, like a coil or ignition module connection. I also have an 80, and my connector plugs have long since crumbled and had to be replaced. Drove me nuts for awhile because they looked fine from the outside. You can check all of these with a jumper wire too. Good luck.