Hey guys,

New to this forum as i just purchased a 96 F150 LB with Auto 302.

So i bought it on monday and it ran fine, the revs dipped a bit while driving it home but i just gave it more gas So now here we are...

It cut out on me while driving and i eventually made it back home to get working on it. I went through a bunch of threads on here which were very helpful but now i am stumped. here is the steps i have taken with my questions at the end. thanks in advance for the help.

1) cut out a couple times, but had enough give to limp home.
2) went to start and absolutely nothing (no lights in dash, no pump noise, nada)
3) got on Ford-Truck forum and did some research.
4) got battery and alternator checked and turned out fine.
5) did the starter solenoid trick (bridge the positive + starter) and nothing.
6) Replaced positive cable and started cable as they had seen better days.
7) got Ignition Module Control Unit checked and was working properly.
8) messed with starter and starter solenoid again and the sweet sound of the 302 roared to life!
9) let it ran then turned it off....now it wont start again.
10) jumped it across the solenoid again and she started up.
11) Let it run and checked the voltage of the battery (13-14V)
12) Turned on the lights and voltage dropped and engine died.
!3) did this again and again and eventually learnt that the revs need to be up to turn the lights, A/C, etc on.
14) Shut her down to ponder........

I figure the ignition switch is not working which is why i have to start it at the solenoid but what could be causing this loss of voltage whenever the lights, etc are turned on?

 

If the alternator checked out fine then there has to be something in the circuit related to the alternator. Did you check the voltage regulator?

Did you buy the truck from a dealer? If so, even without a warranty, take it back and claim they sold you a "lemon" - if they care at all about their reputation they'll check it out for you.

 

Sounds like a crap alt to me. Its only putting out a VERY weak amt of "juice" Still 14V worth, but say at only 20amps.

as far as only starting it with a wrench, thats a bad starter solenoid

 

thanks guys.

i should have mentioned that i already changed the solenoid. i had the battery and alt checked and the battery was above avg and the alt was 'in the green' so to speak.

i didnt buy from a dealer so warranty is no go.

while waiting on some replies i went to mess with it some more and now i only hear the pump and a click at the relays. there is spark at both the solenoid on the fender wall and at the starter, but it wont crank. could this be a stuck starter? man i hate electrical gremlins!!!

 

if you hear the pump go, and you have voltage down to the starter, than yes, your starter is junk

 

Try tapping on the starter with a hammer while someone else turns the key- if it fires that will tell you whether or not the starter is stuck.

 

Thanks again guys.

I hit the starter with the hammer and still nothing. I have been reading on the forum some more and people are saying that they changed starter relays, solenoids, starters, batteries, alternators and it kept coming back.

what they changed in the end was the ignition switch and the wires attached and problem solved. i will still take te starter out to be tested and i will also be checking the ignition switch.

am i missing anthing else i should be checking?

 

Doesnt sound like it.

 

The only other thing I can suggest is to clean the battery cables and starter connections really well. Sometimes dirty connections can wreak havoc.