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Old May 16, 2009 | 06:02 PM
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washed it after wheelin...

i've got and 84 f250 with a 460... i took it mudding a couple weeks ago and i finally got around to washing the engine off... only problem is now it wont crank over.... i tured the key on and shorted the stater soleniod and it fired up... so i know the starter and the soleniod are good but what could cause this problem?
 
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Old May 16, 2009 | 07:11 PM
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ignition cap plug wires and coil
 
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Old May 16, 2009 | 07:30 PM
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ok... explain somthing to me, if i short the starter soleniod and the truck starts how would the plugs wires and coil be bad???
 
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Old May 16, 2009 | 08:19 PM
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Since the engine runs, then the engine electrical has to be fine, so it cant be a cap or anything in the dizzy. The engine is alright you are just not getting 12 volts to the starter solenoid. You hit the key and you get no click from the solenoid itself right?
I would put a meter on the ignition lead and have someone turn the key to start.
Verify voltage and this will send you one direction or another.
If you get voltage at the lead, then you have a connection problem. I no longer use the slip on type factory connectors, I use a ring connector, and use a real fastener to bolt everything together. Then I seal the connections up.
Should be easy to troubleshoot. You already know that when you turn the key nothing happens so find the wire that is responsible for this and work your way around.
 
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Old May 16, 2009 | 09:19 PM
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i have a general idea of where im going... according to the wiring diagram i have there is a power relay that powers up the solenoid wire but im not sure where abouts that relay is located...
 
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Old May 17, 2009 | 06:40 AM
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crap i'm sorry i musta been half asleep reading that usually when something cranks but won't start when wet it's the cap wires and coil but yours won't crank
 
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Old May 17, 2009 | 07:48 AM
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your relays should be in the one of the fuse panels (1 under hood and 1 in cab)
 
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Old May 17, 2009 | 10:47 AM
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Did you pull the cap off and dry it out? I went out wheeling hard one day and the truck died. poped off the cab and a bunch of water came out. Dried it off and fired right up!
 
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Old May 17, 2009 | 01:45 PM
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Originally Posted by mudder460
Did you pull the cap off and dry it out? I went out wheeling hard one day and the truck died. poped off the cab and a bunch of water came out. Dried it off and fired right up!

His truck runs Andy, it just does not start when the key is turned. In his original post, he stated that when he shorted the solenoid the thing fired right up.
This problem is not in the Dizzy. Water in the cap would create a no start issue. that is not the case here.
 
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Old May 17, 2009 | 07:09 PM
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1984 should still have a round coil. Most likely you knocked a wire off while cleaning the engine. I would start by looking at the wires from the coil back.

As someone previously noted, I too use ring connectors and attach them with a small nut onto the threaded post. On the coil negative I make a male/female 1/4" insulated connection so if the truck will not shut off I can pull the wire apart quickly.
 
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Old May 17, 2009 | 07:42 PM
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Damn, I read over that part. Guess I need to start reading this stuff like 4 or 5 times.....must be getting old!
 
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Old May 20, 2009 | 09:56 PM
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i cant believe you all missed it, he answered his own question....

"turned the key on and shorted the starter solenoid and it fired up"

you bypassed the solenoid and it started, that means the solenoid IS NOT WORKING!!! when the motor wont turn over at all shorting the solenoid is how you test it, if the truck starts when you short it then the solenoid is BAD....if it DONT turn the motor over when u short it most likely your starter is toasted..but in your case, fork up 12 bucks and buy a new solenoid....

not to bust you guy's chops, but alot of you arent reading the whole post and the answers already given...
 
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Old May 22, 2009 | 06:50 PM
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Ahaha.. That is funny. Your totally right. You could maybe give the solenoid a good smack with a screwdriver or somethin it might just be stuck. Either way though I'd just change it out to a new one for what they're worth ..
 
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Old May 23, 2009 | 08:38 AM
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i didnt exactly anwser my own question... if you short from the hot side of the solenoid to the solenoid wire and it cranks over that tells me that the solenoid works... I had no power on the solenoid wire. I cleaned up some of the connections on the solenoid wire circuit and it works now. thanks to the guys that actually helped me out
 
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Old May 23, 2009 | 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by master_mechanic
i didnt exactly anwser my own question... if you short from the hot side of the solenoid to the solenoid wire and it cranks over that tells me that the solenoid works... I had no power on the solenoid wire. I cleaned up some of the connections on the solenoid wire circuit and it works now. thanks to the guys that actually helped me out


You beat me to it. When I suggested that the wire did not have 12VDC to it, and that the connection might have been the problem, I assumed that your verbage was correct.
When you stated that you "shorted" the solenoid, it was clear that the solenoid worked, and that the solenoid did not function when you turned the key all of the way.
I was confident that if you knew how to short the solenoid that you were handy enough to know that it was a functional device, and that you were not jumpering accross the line and load side of the solenoid. This would have bypassed the solenoid all together, and it was clear that you did not do this.
The selonoid idea was a good one, but in your description it was evident that the solenoid worked.
The slip on connections are known for their ability to just stop making contact. I typically crimp them down some, but have found that the ring type connection works the best.
Congrats on your find, and your troubleshooting.
 
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