I have had problems starting my 95 Bronco lately. I live in Alaska, so I figured it had to do with the cold. We had a "warm" spell and I wasn't plugging my truck up to keep the battery warm. Anyways, it turned cold and the truck wasn't starting. At first I thought it was just a bad battery. A buddy had the same problem, and he had jumped it and it started right up.

I had kept it plugged in and replaced the battery, but it wouldn't start. My father-in-law said it was probably the bindex. First, I have no idea what that is. Second, how much will a new one cost? He said just keep turning the key (without holding it in the on position), and it should start up eventually. Well, it did.

What do I need to do to replace this? Can I replace it on my own? How much does something like this run?

 

"Bendix" is the name for the manufacturer of the solenoid/gear combination that shifts the gear on the starter over to engage against the flywheel. In the early days (and I mean early) it became a "household" term for that part of the starter. If the "Bendix" is the problem you should be able to hear the starter spinning but the truck will not start because the gear on the starter motor is not shifting over to mesh with the flywheel. The only fix for it if that is indeed the problem is to replace the starter. However, before you go spending the money on a starter, there is another solenoid up on the passenger inner fender right near the battery (you can see the heavy RED battery cable running to it and then from it down to the starter). When you turn the key, you should be able to hear it "clunk" as it makes contact. If not, make certain that the two heavy red wires are secured tightly (there will be other wires attached to the same terminals as well). There will also be a smaller wire (RED/LT. BLUE if I recall correctly) attached to a smaller terminal near the top center of the solenoid. Make certain these are all secure connections. If they are, give a listen while you try to start the truck. If you don't hear it clunk at you, you can bypass it by taking a heavy screwdriver and shorting the two larger posts together. Be careful to keep your fingers clear; the surge when the posts are shorted will generate sparks. Don't use your favorite screwdriver for this trick. If the key is off it should crank but not start. If the key is on it should start. If shorting the two large terminals together doesn't work the solenoid is not the problem. There are other possibilities but this is the most common failure point. Replacement of the remote solenoid is about $8-10 maybe less. It mounts to the inner fender with a pair of bolts. You just have to disconnect the battery while you make the electrical connections.

BTW, where abouts in AK? Was there for two weeks supporting the state's SECOND largest industry last year.

 

Thanks. I'm no expert at this, but atleast I have an idea of what to look for.

I'm at FT Richardson, just north of Anchorage.

 

I hear that "clunk" sound that you mentioned, and I hear the starter spinning when I turn the key.

Does that mean it is likely the solenoid? If it is, I could easily replace that myself.

 

if your hearing the starter spinning and the motor is'nt...replace that starter. And a good idea since you are dealing with extreem colds. trace all your connections from you batery to your starter and clean, I MEAN REALLY CLEAN THEM WELL, and put some contact grease on every contact point( around your batery posts, threads and flats on solenoid, and connecting to the starter). By doing all that it enshures better contact to your starter and giveing you lots of extra power to your starter that you may have lost from gime and corrosion that can build up in those contact points.

 

Then your father-in-law is right! Replace the starter. The "Bendix" gearing is indeed the culprit. The starter is bolted up there with two bolts. The nice thing is its a FORD starter not a Chrysler or GM which often must be shimmed and adjusted. With the Ford unit, disconnect the battery, the wiring at the starter and unbolt the starter. And, as the manuals say, the install is the reverse of the removal.

Ok, Anchorage is one of the few major cities we didn't stop. Passed through on the Alaskan Railway though.