starter problems???
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Joined: Feb 2009
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starter problems???
Truck started just fine this morning, ran great no issues. Just a normal work day.
Got out of work, jumped in the old rusty beast and she won't start. First thought was I needed a jump. Had the wife come up and she still won't fire up. The gauge shows my batery is good, the needle was pointing to the "R" in "NORMAL".
The lights do not dim out, none of the normal low battery signs are present. What happens when I turn the key over is basically nothing. I get one click when I turn the key over, it doesn't even attempt to start.
I talked to my Dad about it and he suggested replacing the starter relay first and then moving on to more expensive parts.
Any thoughts on what the issue is. I will have to get it towed home tomorrow and start work on it Friday morning.
Thanks for any tips on getting her back on the road.
BTW, it's a 94 4.9 F-150
Got out of work, jumped in the old rusty beast and she won't start. First thought was I needed a jump. Had the wife come up and she still won't fire up. The gauge shows my batery is good, the needle was pointing to the "R" in "NORMAL".
The lights do not dim out, none of the normal low battery signs are present. What happens when I turn the key over is basically nothing. I get one click when I turn the key over, it doesn't even attempt to start.
I talked to my Dad about it and he suggested replacing the starter relay first and then moving on to more expensive parts.
Any thoughts on what the issue is. I will have to get it towed home tomorrow and start work on it Friday morning.
Thanks for any tips on getting her back on the road.
BTW, it's a 94 4.9 F-150
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B -Dobz: I tried touching both post on the relay and the starter gives one loud click and then stops.
I tried testing the relay by grounding each post and checking for spark and each gave spark when the key was turned. One gave spark with the key in the run position. I think the relay is fine, and will change out the starter in the morning.
If I am off track feel free to course correct, but if I am right let me know also. I will lose loads of sleep over this since the mortgage is due and I can't stand to lose any $$$$.
I tried testing the relay by grounding each post and checking for spark and each gave spark when the key was turned. One gave spark with the key in the run position. I think the relay is fine, and will change out the starter in the morning.
If I am off track feel free to course correct, but if I am right let me know also. I will lose loads of sleep over this since the mortgage is due and I can't stand to lose any $$$$.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2009
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So I took the starter out on Friday morning and took it to Auto Zone to get it tested. I stood there watching the guy test it thinking I would be walking out with a new starter in the near future. The dam* thing passed the test, right there in the store I let a string of foul words slip.
So I packed it up and went home, thinking the worst. I put the starter back in after cleaning all of the connections on the wires. I was about to start following the wires looking for something broken and my little boy told me he wanted to get in the truck and play. So I open the door for him and on a whim try to start the old beast. The S-O-B starts right up
!!! So I firgure I either had a loose or dirty connection somewhere and taking it all apart and cleaning it fixed the problem.
Two good things came from the experience:
1) I saved some money as I didn't have to buy a new starter
2) I found out it is easier to remove my starter then it is to change my oil!
Thanks to everyone that helped me out with this issue.
So I packed it up and went home, thinking the worst. I put the starter back in after cleaning all of the connections on the wires. I was about to start following the wires looking for something broken and my little boy told me he wanted to get in the truck and play. So I open the door for him and on a whim try to start the old beast. The S-O-B starts right up!!! So I firgure I either had a loose or dirty connection somewhere and taking it all apart and cleaning it fixed the problem. Two good things came from the experience:
1) I saved some money as I didn't have to buy a new starter
2) I found out it is easier to remove my starter then it is to change my oil!
Thanks to everyone that helped me out with this issue.
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