I have no idea....!

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Oct 18, 2006 | 07:24 PM

Georgia F150

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From: Leesburg, Ga

I have no idea....!

Gents, if I could get some help I'd appreciate it. I drove my 1994 F150 5.0 Automatic with 178,000 miles to work today. No problems. The truck is a daily driver for work and hunting. It's in great shape and dosen't give me a lick of trouble, until now. I drove to different job sites off and on all day, then parked it at the office. I was inside 10 minutes. I jumped back in the truck and turned the key; on ACC, the guages came up to operational, the radio came on, fuel pump kicked on, then I proceeded to turn it over then all I heard was a light "click" or ""clunk"...It sounds like something was trying to engage and decided not to. I didn't think it was my battery, but I attempted to jump it...Nothing, exact same noise.

A friend though it would be my starter, but no indication of it going bad before this..This truck always turns over on the first key stroke. Not even sure where to look or troubleshoot it...Any tips fellas?

Thanks

Ron

Oct 18, 2006 | 07:27 PM

blue 2004 FX4

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From: indiana

I had a 94 and that is what happend to me no warning, the starter went bad. I also had a lot of miles on mine at the time.

Oct 18, 2006 | 07:31 PM

Georgia F150

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From: Leesburg, Ga

FX4 , thanks for the quick response...Is the starter a bear to replace laying on your back in parking lot?

Any tips, or tools I need to be specific about? Like specialized tools or anything?

Oct 18, 2006 | 08:12 PM

jimbo beam

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From: Hawkeye Country

could also be the starter solinoid, had one go out on my old truck made a click noise when the key was turned and the motor wouldnt fire. maybe give that a try since its easier to change then the starter.

you can do a quick test to see if the starter has any life left in it, using jumper cables connect one of the negative clamps to the battery and the other to one of the ears or any metal non moving peice of the starter, then connect one of the positive clamps to the starter where the cable bolts to it, then touch the other positive to the positive battery terminal to see if the starter spins

Oct 18, 2006 | 08:20 PM

jimbo beam

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From: Hawkeye Country

you wont need any special tools to switch out the starter, just a good ratchet set, and you may want a floor jack and jack stands to get the truck up in the air alittle.

spend a few bucks and get a decent starter so you wont have to get under there again for a while.

i would recommend looking into the starter soliniod first, its a hunderd times easier to replace then the starter and it'll cost about 5 bucks.

Oct 18, 2006 | 08:42 PM

handyman43358

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From: West Mansfield, Ohio

You can test the solenoid to see if it's working. Make sure the truck is in park or nuetral, pull the single wire connector off the solenoid thats mounted to the inside of your engine compartment.... more than likely on the passenger side behind the battery to expose the bare terminal. Then take a screwdriver and cross that with the terminal that leads down to the starter. This should crank it over. Don't leave it on there too long. If it doesn't crank over, bank on the starter being bad. If it cranks over, replace the solenoid.

Oct 18, 2006 | 08:43 PM

shooter05

Mountain Pass

Joined: Aug 2005

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From: Newark, Ohio

I milked a starter out for an extra month when mine went bad. If it gave me fits I'd tap on it with a screwdriver and it would work right for a bit.
Might give it a couple of good rapps to see if it does any good. Cheap and quick test.