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1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Dentsides Ford Truck
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Old Jan 9, 2006 | 10:56 AM
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Starter Bad?

I just bought a 1979 F-250 I6, 4.9L 300. When I bought the truck it fired up right away. It fired up about 10 more times that day on the long 240 mile drive home. No problems whatsoever getting home. No issues starting at all. This morning I fire it up and turns over quick. I end up cutting it off and when I get back it won't fire and all it will do is click a little. I tried jumping it....No Go either. Could this be the starter???
 
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Old Jan 9, 2006 | 03:43 PM
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Bean, it could be the starter or it could be the starter relay. Usually on a fender well ther is a starter relay, about half the size of your fist, ther are two large wires attached to it, one frome the battery and one to the starter, and two smaller wires from the ignition starting system. This could be bad as well.
 
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Old Jan 9, 2006 | 04:50 PM
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Hi and welcome to FTE! Be sure to read this to help you around this site: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...88#post3272088 There are also State, Provincial and International Chapters located near the bottom of the main forum page.

We are glad to have you. Hope you enjoy the site. Check out the various forums. Lots of great info for you.

Thread moved to 73-79 Ford trucks forum.

See ya on the boards!

-Matt
 
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Old Jan 9, 2006 | 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by bean
I just bought a 1979 F-250 I6, 4.9L 300. When I bought the truck it fired up right away. It fired up about 10 more times that day on the long 240 mile drive home. No problems whatsoever getting home. No issues starting at all. This morning I fire it up and turns over quick. I end up cutting it off and when I get back it won't fire and all it will do is click a little. I tried jumping it....No Go either. Could this be the starter???
clean all your connections and make sure the grounds are good also before you start throwing money at it.
 
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Old Jan 9, 2006 | 09:27 PM
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wintremute
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Also, if it's sticking, a good hard whack on the starter with a hammer might help. Just a thought Used to have to do that almost daily on the old CJ.
 
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Old Jan 9, 2006 | 11:53 PM
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Use clicking is from a bad connection or a battery gone bad.

Check,Clean & Tighten all starter related connections.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2006 | 08:21 PM
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I'm with those on the bad connection thing. Replace battery connectors with one piece units that run from the block to batt, and solenoid to batt. I hate those 'replacement terminal ends'. they are a disaster waiting to happen.
Mark
 
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Old Jan 11, 2006 | 11:07 AM
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Thanks

Mark,

Thanks for the reply. After fooling around with it I ended up trimming up and cleaning the connector cables and she fired up. But it is not firing perfectly, in fact it seems I have to find just the right spot and then it fires. Do you think that is still the connectors?? I'll check into the one-piece units. Does Advanced have those??

Thanks again,

Dave
 
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Old Jan 11, 2006 | 11:09 AM
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Thanks everyone

Just wanted to thank you all for your comments.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2006 | 01:53 PM
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One thing that few people know is that molded cables can corrode inside under the insulation near the cable end on the battery.

This can get very frustrating as the cable looks great from the exterior but inside only a few strands are clean.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2006 | 03:06 PM
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I recently had to change all my 4 guage positive wiring because of rot in the copper wiring. It's not a bad idea and should help a lot. That would be from battery to relay to starter and my negative also. Splicing in some fresh wiring around the relay couldn't hurt. Just a couple of hours work, and a world of difference.

Madmike33
 
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Old Jan 11, 2006 | 06:32 PM
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From: Eustis FL
Yeah Dave, I would lean towards the fact that you still have bad connections. Replacing all your heavy gauge wiring is a good thing, and it's inexpensive. If you can find the engine to chassis ground strap, clean up connections or replace also. If anything, you will have great piece of mind. I get lazy with that sometimes, but after the occasional 'parking lot blues' session of wiggling wires to start the car, I get mad and finally remember to buy new cables. So, all my vehicles get new ones at the first sign of bad corrosion. Keep in mind, wires still fairly new can be cleaned with water and baking soda. You can then spray a weather protectant over the connections, available at most parts stores. Mask your battery so it doesn't look 'Ghetto' after spraying.
Mark
 
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