Starter Engaging w/o Key
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Starter Engaging w/o Key
This is my first post so thanks for the help and hey to all. But I have a 1993 Ford F150 5.0 that I'm having a crazy problem with. I just bought the truck back I owned it at one time, to mess around with and it didn't have a starter on it when I bought it so I figured this was a easy fix but it has not been. The problem is when I connect the battery cables to the battery the starter automaticly starts spining and turning the motor over the only way I can get it to stop is take the battery terminal off. The starter works fine but it's just crazy that the starter is engaging at all times without the key being turned on or anything... I've carried the starter back and they said it was fine.. I can take the cables off the rely on the fender wall and it still engages. There is a power wire running straight from the battery to the starter and there is a power wire running straight to the rely.. so what gives... I thought about running me a switch between the power wire and the starter so I can engage power when I want it to get it. BUT Any tips would be helpful. Don't really want to spend much on fixing it so if I can rig it up just tell me how...
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
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It's posssible the ignition switch on the steering column is giving you problems. It's possible that the solenoid is giving you problems. If it isn't any of the above, it's probably has a wiring problem. You can try unplugging the ignition switch and see if the starter engages when you hook up the battery cables. I'd try to get ahold of a Ford shop manual and follow the diagnostic routine for the problem. It's cheaper than throwing parts at it.
Greg B
Greg B
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Blue Ball, PA
When you say you take the cables of the relay on the fenderwell, are you talking about the starter soleniod? The solenoid is a short cylindrical shaped unit with two large binding posts and one or two small binding posts. If you are, I am having trouble seeing how the starter is engaging if you remove all the cables from the solenoid.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Cottage Grove, WI
There should not be a power cable running from the battery to the starter. The cables should go from the battery to the fender solenoid, and then from the other post on the solenoid down to the starter. Theres your problem
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Tuned
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From: Blue Ball, PA
Without being there to see what is going on as opposed to reading it, I definitely agree with you Blue Rebel.
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From: metro detroit area...
that sounds like a good place to start... don't know why someone would wire it up like that (assuming the guy who bought it back didn't do it). that would make the starter spin the whole time it was running, wouldn't that chew up the fly wheel??
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Brampton, On. Can.
Do you have the correct starter for a '93? It should be a small body with a solenoid attached with 2 large posts and a smaller one.
The older style is a large body with a small cover on the side of it and a single connection for the cable.
Your '93 has a power cable that goes directly from the battery to the starter. If you used the older starter, you are putting full power to the starter as soon as you connect the cable.
The older style is a large body with a small cover on the side of it and a single connection for the cable.
Your '93 has a power cable that goes directly from the battery to the starter. If you used the older starter, you are putting full power to the starter as soon as you connect the cable.
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I thought something was fishy because when I was hooking it up there was a place for a little red wire to hook up and on the starter I didn't have anywhere for it to go.. I got the starter for free of another f 150 it's brand new tho. I carried it back to advance and he told me that they were all the same I called bull**** and he told me I had something wrong with my wiring or ignition. On my Chevy's there is a ground and power wire but on this there was just a power wire which means that it's getting power all the time.
I was going to hook up a toggle switch to keep it from getting fire all the time but maybe they will swap it out for me.. I hate to go back up there and comfront the guy but there is definitely only ONE hook up on the starter.... Thanks for the help..
You think they will just swap it out or I'm going to have to come out of pocket.. Broke College kid with thin pockets..
I was going to hook up a toggle switch to keep it from getting fire all the time but maybe they will swap it out for me.. I hate to go back up there and comfront the guy but there is definitely only ONE hook up on the starter.... Thanks for the help..
You think they will just swap it out or I'm going to have to come out of pocket.. Broke College kid with thin pockets..
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Brampton, On. Can.
If you are stuck with that starter, you could easily rewire it. You just need a new cable from the battery to one side of the solenoid and a new cable from the other side of the solenoid, down to the starter.
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Ok I've done this ran a cable from the battery to the solenoid and the solenoid to the starter.. I can only get the starter to rollover when I just the solenoid. So assume my solenoid is bad now so what's a crafty way to fix this or do you know where I can get one cheap cheap....