I tried to start my 68 f100, 360cid, truck tonight and the starter would work fine but it wouldnt turn the engine over. My step dad says the Selonoid is broken, so it wont turn the flywheel. Does this sound right? Is this easy to replace. How would i go about doing this? Thanks.

 

The starter solenoid is located on the right inner fender. Its the cylinder with the wires (one from the battery) attached to it. Just remove the wires, but tag them so you know where to replace them. Then remove the old solenoid and put the new one on. It's a simple job. Even I can do it!:-)

 

Ford's usually have the solenoid mounted on an inner fender near the battery and it's very easy to change. 2 screws and some wires. But based on your description of the failure mode here I don't think it's the culprit.

When you say the starter works fine but doesn't turn the motor over I'm assuming the starter is kicking out, and that usually means the starter is bad.

All the solenoid is really is a big relay. When you turn the ignition switch to start it sends 12V to the S terminal and that causes the battery leads to connect thru the solenoid contacts directly to the starter. Just a big electric switch. For $20 you can buy a simple multi meter at Radio Shack and have a look for yourself. Measure the battery cable that's connected to the starter. Should be 0 volts until you get someone to turn the ignition switch. Then it should be 12V.

I really think you'll need a starter tho and that's easy too. especially on a truck. Just 2 bolts and the battery cable. You can get it bench tested at an AutoZone or something before plunkin' your money down too.

Good Luck. Hope I've helped.

 

yea but the starter works fine. when i turn the key over all i hear is the starter spinning the wheel connected to it.. i did it for like 5 seconds... so i guess its the selonoid??? the only other thing it could be is the flywheel but that couldnt be damaged could it??

 

You must have missed the punch line in pntrbil's post.


Ya need a Starter.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 27-Dec-01 AT 00:29 AM (EST)]Like Dirty said, it's the starter. When the starter spins, the pinion (gear on the end of the starter shaft) has to move and engage the flywheel teeth. If the gear doesn't move, the starter just spins and no engine spinning happens. For the problem to really be with the flywheel, most/all of the teeth where the starter is trying to engage would have to be totally gone (and odds of the flywheel being that gone are slim.)

 

On the starter there is a solenoid also, i think this is the problem. i am going to try to replace this, before the whole starter.

 

Good luck and report back here what happens. As others have pointed out, the "Starter Solenoid" is the switch that energizes the starter. If the starter spins when you turn the ignition to the start position, then the Starter Solenoid is fine. Your problem must be in the starter itself or in the flywheel/flexplate. Also, as others have pointed out, missing teeth on the flywheel/flexplate isn't likely to be the problem because: (1) you would hear a really obvious grinding noise, not just the free spinning of the starter; and (2) it's extremely unlikely to lose a lot of teeth suddenly. What is more likely if it is missing flywheel/flexplate teeth is that the starter will grind intermittently, but turning it off and trying again a few times will eventually get it to engage.

If you really want to verify whether it is a missing flywheel teeth issue, just put a wrench on the crank pulley bolt and turn the engine manually a quarter turn or so, then try to start it. If it starts right up, it may well have been that the starter was trying to engage a bad spot on the flywheel/flexplate where a couple of teeth were missing. I got five bucks says that's not it, however.

Assuming you've got factory manifolds, pulling the starter is pretty simple. You can then test it easily once its out and see if the pinion is coming out the way it should. I wasn't aware that there was a separate solenoid on the starter itself, but if so, let us know about it and how to diagnose/fix it.

 

It's the starter, i just got a whole new one and put it in. Thanks for your help.

 

To quote the eminent philosopher Mr. Myagi: "Welcome.":-)

 

There are some starters that incorporate the starter solenoid into the starter itself. In some designs this solenoid surves a dual purpose. It not only switches the power, but pushes the starter pinion gear into mesh with the ring gear. I think I remember my Mazda 626 having this design. Obviously in Fords this is not the case, as the solenoid is not mechanically attached to the starter.

Hope this helps clear the confusion.

Mark

 

All GM products have the solenoid on the starter, but we won't talk about that! LOL!

Actually as far as I know Ford is the only company that used remotely mounted solenoids. Never seen it anywhere else.

Bill

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 28-Dec-01 AT 06:28 PM (EST)]

All GM products have the solenoid on the starter, but we won't talk about that! LOL!
====
---Actually the Ford 385 family of engines, 429...460's use a starter with a starter mounted solenoid.

Actually as far as I know Ford is the only company that used remotely mounted solenoids. Never seen it anywhere else.
====
----The remote starter solenoid was used by Jeep Corp, and some AMC
engines.

Bill

===

 

Well Actually, MY 429/460 has a fender solenoid like all other ford engines.
The starter has what they call a Starter DRIVE not a solenoid on them.
The solenoid is Remote ,not parts of the assembly.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=768&.jpg


Dennis
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
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78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
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Mil1ion

Don't doubt you for a minute, but is it factory. I'm under the impression that at least the 460 used the starter mounted solenoid. Is this not correct?? Anybody out there set me straight on this.