Its a 1990 f350 460 with a E4OD 4x4
Every once in a while when i go to start the truck it won't crank.
I just here a click click from under the hood. I thought it might be a bad battery connection, but it wasn't. I figured out if i cycled through all the gears and back a couple of times it will start up. I've searched the other posts and done some of the tests. When it just clicks there is no sparks when i jump the bolts on the starter solenoid.
Is this a sign of a bad neutral switch or ignition actuator or something else?
thanks for the help

 

If it's not cranking across the post on the solenoid, check for power on the batt side of it. You still might have a bad connection at the battery to the solenoid(cable). The click just comes from power applied to the solenoid via the ignition switch. If you have power at the solenoid from the battery, it should crank witht the switch on or not. It just won't start if the switch is off

 

I cleaned the battery terminals and tried jump starting it with my other truck with no luck. Its starting right now but i know something is going out on it. About 1 out of 8 times of driving it won't start back up. After cycling through the gears several times, it will start.

 

as i always recommend clean the spade starter on the starter, crimp it if necessary.

 

having the same exact problem. did the switching through the gears thing and it would start but now it wont start at all. the abs light has been on for a few weeks now but i just hadn't had time to check it and didnt really know how.

here are some symptoms/clues:

abs light on

check engine light on one of the codes it gave me was something like brake switch indicator always on or something like that(might be related so i put that in the post)

when i put the key in and turn it it will not crank but make that one click like from the starter im guessing and the dash dies. all the lights go dead and when i stop trying to crank they come back but very very dim.

normally it will do that but then i can move the gear selector and it will start right up.
this morning i did that and even removed the battery cables and tried clearing the codes. i dont really know how to do that, i have heard that you have to like press the brakes 5 times or something like that to clear the codes and wait 15 mins? anyway, i didnt and the codes were still there and it wouldnt crank. the lights came on real bright on the dash and i thought ok here we go and i turn the key and nothing. the one click sound and a dead dash again

i havent tried bridging the starter solenoid cause i was in a rush to get to work. what do i do just connect the two nuts/bolts with a screwdriver or whatever?

another thing that might be of concern is the other day i had just come back from a short trip and my rims were too hot to touch. literally . . . i went to pick up some nevrdull at the store which like 10 blocks away and came back. i went to put the stuff on and the wheel was wayyyyy too hot to touch. that was the front wheel. that is the weirdest thing i have ever seen. is this related?

please help guys! i would really appreciate it! i am gonna check the starter spade connector cause i needed it replaced and my dad got some homeless backyard mechanic come over and "replace it" for like 20 bucks and some beers. he broke the connector and had to get another spade connector. he got some spade connectors from autozone and rigged it to where it would work. could this be related? i will also try to check the abs codes somehow. i will browse the site to see if anyone has done it and explains how to. again, please let me know what your thoughts are! thanks a million!

 

forgot to mention another thing. i'm getting this beeping coming from under the dash. sounds like its coming from near the pedals. its a beep that sounds like its coming froma tiny little crappy speaker. it beeps 5 times. isnt that the airbags? anyway, 5 beeps sometimes once sometimes twice

 

Have your battery tested to see if there's a bad cell.

 

its a brand new battery. still think i should? any other suggestions people? thanks by the way rgrinde

 

That sounsd like the abs low voltage beep. If the battery is new, inspect your cables and clean your grounds.

 

can you tell me more about this beep. i have heard of it before but am still not familiar with why it would beep. could it cause the condition of not starting? or could that be a separate coincidental problem? thanks btw

 

Had a problem very much like yours. Replaced the starter, all fixed. I'd say take your starter off and get it tested, only takes a couple mins to remove it.

 

its actually a rebuilt starter but like i mentioned earlier. it was done by some guy my dad met at the local supermarket that says he fixes cars. my dad went looking for him after he remembered that he had met him once. i needed it done and didnt have the time so i figured what the hell. well needless to say there was no warranty lol

we'll see what the heck gets discovered. will try to run some codes tomorrow and will test starter. thanks creel

 

Just re-read Nirvs post.

"When it just clicks there is no sparks when i jump the bolts on the starter solenoid."

Mine sparked so I may be misleading you, sorry. If its clicking the solenoid, it should be getting full power to the starter.

Felixr, Id jump the solenoid bolts on yours first before taking it off, if its sparking then I'd have the starter checked. I really doubt your abs has anything to do with it not/starting. Have you checked the bearings on that front wheel?