86 f150-no start.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 52
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86 f150-no start.
I just put a new starter in my truck...I started and shut it off about 5-6 times after i put it in..started fine. my dad started it the next day. The other night i started it to move our trailer and as i was going across the yard the headlights were shutting on and off. when i parked it it stalled, and acted like the battery was dead....Tried the jump pack and nothing, tried jumper cables with my geo tracker running and it started...Now it wont start at all, Had the battery tested, and it was good. IT doesnt even have enough power to turn the dome light and headlights on at the same time...what can cause this?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
That is your starter solenoid. Could be dead, but with the thing about the lights going off and on it must be a bad connection.
The first thing to do is to (whether they need it or not,) clean both battery cables both sides both ends. Also clean and your engine to chassis ground cable, both ends, both sides and the surface that they bolt to.
If that didn't fix your problem, check you fusable links.
All that done, use a jumper cable and briefly short across the two large terminals on your solenoid. If it cranks that way, pull off the small wire from your ignition switch to the solenoid and short that to the positive cable. If it does not work, change the solenoid. If it doesn't crank with either of those two tests, replace the starter.
The first thing to do is to (whether they need it or not,) clean both battery cables both sides both ends. Also clean and your engine to chassis ground cable, both ends, both sides and the surface that they bolt to.
If that didn't fix your problem, check you fusable links.
All that done, use a jumper cable and briefly short across the two large terminals on your solenoid. If it cranks that way, pull off the small wire from your ignition switch to the solenoid and short that to the positive cable. If it does not work, change the solenoid. If it doesn't crank with either of those two tests, replace the starter.
New User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12
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Just a thought. I think it might be wise to check / replace your computer relay. It is under the dash on my '86 F150 (302). Mine was bad and I replaced batteries (2) alternators, starters, ground wires, etc. before I figured it out. Once I replaced the relay (which was draining all the juice from shorting out or something) the problems all went away. Good Luck.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 353
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From: Mid-Missouri
Sounds to me like some serious grounding issues. Even if the Engine/block ground looks good, it may be damaged inside the insulation. I fought this with mine for 2 days. Replace starter, solenoid, battery, alternator, ignition switch. Replaced the gound cable from the battery to the frame/engine block and it all finally worked.
Before, all the electrics would work until I turned the key to the start position. Once I turned to the start position, the lights would quit and the solenoid would not even engage. Wait 5 minutes and it would do the same thing.
Turns out that the ground cable was corroded inside the insulation all the way from the frame fastening point up to the battery.
Before, all the electrics would work until I turned the key to the start position. Once I turned to the start position, the lights would quit and the solenoid would not even engage. Wait 5 minutes and it would do the same thing.
Turns out that the ground cable was corroded inside the insulation all the way from the frame fastening point up to the battery.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 183
Likes: 1
My truck had the same problem. Starter, cables and solinoid were all good. I ended up cleaning the back of the solinoid and on the fender where the solinoid mounts with some steel wool and a file so i know it was grounding good for sure right there and that fixed my problems. Worth a try, its easy and cheap.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 183
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They should be on the passenger fender in a wire loom or exposed. They look like small rectangles inline with the wires. Just poke through the side closest to the cab and check if you have voltage or check the continuity across the fusible link. Once again i would definetly make sure you have a good ground from the cab to the engine block and that it is not loose.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 183
Likes: 1
The engine to cab ground should start at the back of the engine block on the drivers side, kind of by the oil pressure sensor and run up to the cab itself to the left(if your looking at it from under the hood of the truck) of the wipre motor. I Am still kind of unclear on your problem. Lets get it straight. The truck will not crank when turning the key from inside, but it will start if you jump the terminals on the starter solinoid. Then it will run, but will shut off if you turn the lights on?