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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Odd starting problem??

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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 05:20 PM
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Odd starting problem??

Okay, I recently got my 1984 F250 (see sig) back on the road and it is running very well. However, it has developed a weird starting problem. nine times out of ten, you can crank the truck over just fine, but every few times, it will act like a dead battery and all you'll get is a click. When it does this, the lights will dim, but no crank. I just replaced the battery, the positive cable from the +terminal to the solenoid, the neg cable from the -terminal to the engine block (which I upgraded at the same time from 4 gauge to 2 gauge), and the solenoid. What would cause such an intermisstent problem?
 
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 06:07 PM
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Doesn't sound odd, it sounds like your starter is going...

'84, who knows if it's ever been changed
 
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 06:48 PM
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Thats what I was thinking, but I didnt know if anything else caused these symptoms before I go replacing the starter.
 
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 06:57 PM
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Make sure the starter solenoid is grounded...usually that's through the mounting bolts, but you may want to make sure there's metal to metal contact with the fender.
 
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 11:30 PM
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When it does this, the lights will dim, but no crank.
From that clue, I also think it's the starter. If the lights went completely out, I would think bad battery or bad connection at the battery. Going dim but not out means there is a load on the system(the starter), but the starter is not doing it's job.
 
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 04:58 AM
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I don't disagree. I just like completely ruling out the cheap and simple when it comes to electrical issues, especially in this case since he's replaced the solenoid and the propensity for the hold down bolts to strip if overtightened by half an inch-pound.
 
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 04:26 PM
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Okay, I cleaned the ground for the solenoid and replaced the starter, so Ill see if that does it. Also, the cable end where it attaches to the starter was barely connected and the end was pretty much destroyed, so I crimped a new end on to it since it was already apart. If theres anything else I should check let me know
 
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