Hello!

I have a problem with the starter on my 97 F150. Whenever I start it up, the starter doesnt let go right away and makes a dragging sound. It only does this on startup. Can you guys help out?

Is the starter going bad? I wanna get it sorted out before winter hits. It would definitely suck being stuck in the middle of no where in the cold with a dead truck.

Thanks!

 

I would check the connections on the starter at the very least. While I haven't heard of this mode of failure before, about the only thing it could be is the starter.

The first thing I'd try is have someone help you. Have them start the truck, and you listen to the solenoid. It should click on when they turn the key, and click off the second they let go. If it doesn't click until the starter disengages, then it's probably an electrical fault.

If it clicks like normal, and the starter still drags, it's probably a bad starter.

The starter is an easy fix, too. I just put one on my 98.

Good Luck,
~Cerberus

 

Ditto the above.
Sounds like the starter solenoid is not releasing completely.
You can pull the starter off and bench test it with a 12 V source. Check to see if the solenoid disengages as soon as you remove the voltage.
If you suspect problems, I'd go ahead and replace the whole starter assembly - or maybe you can get just the solenoid. I am not sure. The starter assembly is not a lot of money. About $140 I think.
Delaying might bugger up the flywheel teeth and then you have a much bigger issue to deal with.

 

I see what you mean, BrianA. If I let it continue, then I would have to pull the trans. and replace the flywheel. That would be EXPENSIVE!

Thanks for the heads up and I'll go check it out tomorrow and report back to you.

 

Sorry for the delay. Turns out I need a new starter. My boss said it wasnt't clicking and not releasing, so I ordered a brand new one. I'm still waiting for it. Is it unusual for the original starter to die at 91K miles??

 

I'd say "yes", but that doesn't mean it can't happen, as you just proved it can.

The starter on my wife's Lexus (since sold) failed at about 80,000 miles. It was justthe brushes. I took the starter apart and got the brushes from the dealer and had it back on the road for way less than the price of a starter.

Best of luck - sounds like you'll soon have it fixed.

 

When I was proceeding to put in the new starter, I looked at the old one and I discovered that it was real loose! Yeah, I said loose! One of the bolts was missing and the other one was barely holding it on! I was real baffled by this. I put a new bolt in and the noise went away. It runs like new now.

I got real lucky! I'm real happy that I saved myself amost 170 bucks!

Thanks for all the help!