Strange intermittent no start
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Strange intermittent no start
Hey guys, my name is Steve. I've got a 1992 Ford F150 Supercab Longbed pick-up with a 351W and E40D transmission. For the past month, I have been having a strange intermittent no-start issue on my truck. This can happen at anytime. For example, on a typical day, the truck will start-up fine in the morning and then all of a sudden by afternoon or evening it will not start-it will click like if the battery was dead. So I shake the battery a few times until I get it to start and it starts up. The battery has been tested and it's fine. Alternator was replaced two years ago. Starter solenoid hasn't been replaced though. I have also tightened up the battery posts as tight as I can get them. I tried searching on the recalls/tsb section and didn't find anything related to a no-start condition. Does anyone know or aware of a tsb posted on this type of problem? Where should I start tracking the problem? Your answers would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Last edited by supercab blue; Dec 11, 2007 at 12:23 AM. Reason: revised title
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Where's the spade connector?
Originally Posted by quicklook2
check battery cables and ground connection and the spade connector at the starter.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
From: Naples, FL
If its clicking it could be your starter or starter solinoid. I would say try jumping the solinoid. if the starter turns over then your solinoid is bad. (you can start your motor by doing this but i wouldnt rely on it for long you could hurt other things) you could also try tapping the starter with a hammer while someone is turning the key over. not to hard though so you dont dent the can. But I would start with the solinoid first. thats most likely your problem. there cheap and easy to replace. $10 at local auto store and save you the hassel of dealing with it going out later. especially if it hasnt been replaced.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,668
Likes: 301
From: Easton,Ks
Originally Posted by quicklook2
check battery cables and ground connection and the spade connector at the starter.
Sounds like you have bad battery cables if it is a machine gun type, replace both.
The relay on the fender seldom goes bad.
If you only get one click then it is more than likely the spade connector or bad battery post connection like quicklook2 said.
Could be the solenoid that is mounted on the starter but not too likely.
/
Last edited by subford; Dec 11, 2007 at 08:40 AM.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
It's one click
[QUOTE=subford]Is it one click or a machine gun type sound?
If you only get one click then it is more than likely the spade connector or bad battery post connection like quicklook2 said.
Could be the solenoid that is mounted on the starter but not too likely.
It's one click at the tap of the ignition switch. I'll search for the spade connector on the search function. Oh, how difficult is to replace? Do I have to splice any wires?
If you only get one click then it is more than likely the spade connector or bad battery post connection like quicklook2 said.
Could be the solenoid that is mounted on the starter but not too likely.
It's one click at the tap of the ignition switch. I'll search for the spade connector on the search function. Oh, how difficult is to replace? Do I have to splice any wires?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,668
Likes: 301
From: Easton,Ks
Originally Posted by supercab blue
It's one click at the tap of the ignition switch. I'll search for the spade connector on the search function. Oh, how difficult is to replace? Do I have to splice any wires?
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 805
Likes: 3
Umm, might want to check the battery cable a little more closely. If shaking the battery (why isn't it secured?) will 'fix' the problem, chances are you have a similar problem to one I had. Mine cost me a battery, and a starter, and a starter relay, before I finally figured it was a dead cable. The cable forks at the clamp on the battery. One goes to the starting relay (on the fender), and the other goes to the starter. Now, if you're hearing a really loud 'click' when you turn the key to start, that would be the solenoid driving the bendix into the flywheel. If that's happening, starter, solenoid, and relay are all good. The cable's burned out inside the battery clamp. Mine started having some of the same symptoms. I had NO charging issues (charging current comes through cable going to starter relay), but the starter simply wouldn't spin. CLANK when the solenoid engaged, but no rotation. I needed a new starter anyway, just not quite as soon as I got one. I cut the OE clamp off, and stuffed the two cables into a replacement clamp. Been going fine since. The cables showed no indication of heating, corrosion, or any problem at all really. Just didn't make sense to be getting power on one wire, and not on the other when they were molded into the same clamp.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Starter was replaced
Originally Posted by Old_Paint
Umm, might want to check the battery cable a little more closely. If shaking the battery (why isn't it secured?) will 'fix' the problem, chances are you have a similar problem to one I had. Mine cost me a battery, and a starter, and a starter relay, before I finally figured it was a dead cable. The cable forks at the clamp on the battery. One goes to the starting relay (on the fender), and the other goes to the starter. Now, if you're hearing a really loud 'click' when you turn the key to start, that would be the solenoid driving the bendix into the flywheel. If that's happening, starter, solenoid, and relay are all good. The cable's burned out inside the battery clamp. Mine started having some of the same symptoms. I had NO charging issues (charging current comes through cable going to starter relay), but the starter simply wouldn't spin. CLANK when the solenoid engaged, but no rotation. I needed a new starter anyway, just not quite as soon as I got one. I cut the OE clamp off, and stuffed the two cables into a replacement clamp. Been going fine since. The cables showed no indication of heating, corrosion, or any problem at all really. Just didn't make sense to be getting power on one wire, and not on the other when they were molded into the same clamp.
