75' 360 start problem. Relay solenoid?
 

Not sure if you all remember but my wife and I fixing up a 75 F-100. We are both newbies at this and do have some help from other semi newbies. :)

Well we got our truck a couple months ago and it ran pretty well, but did hesitate when stepping on it and the spark at the plug looked weak. Also our big problem was starting. It turned over very slow, and the battery seemed to only have a couple trys before we would get a starter click or clicks etc.

So we got a new battery, cables to solenoid from battery(sp??) and negative battery to block. We also put a new coil on for good measure(for possible weak spark even though I wasnt positive what to look for).

We tried jumping the truck since we didnt have a charger and all we would get is a click from the soleniod. You could see the postive cable from the battery move.

Also after just around 6-8 turns of the keys the cable from the battery felt warm.

The lights also would dim when trying to turn it over.

My question(s) Is it the solenoid?? What else am I missing.

I borrowed a trickle charger and am charging it for the night to see if it will help.

Thanx all,

Jamie and Amanda

Sounds like a bad starter to me. I would also have the alternator checked to make sure that it is charging properly. A bad alternator or voltage regulator will cause a weak battery and a weak spark.

My guess would be the starter - probably overheated at some point. Replace the solenoid at the same time as the contacts are likely burnt.

WOW!!! That went bad!!
 

WOW!!!!


Well I got a new solenoid. Plugged the wires from the old part one by one, so to make sure they made it to their right home.

Well once I went to start it. POOOFFF smoke!!! Battery cables melted instantly and dash went blank. Shut the hood in case the battery was going to blo. Didnt want acid on house, me or car.

What the heck happened?????
Also on a side note. There is a switch with 3-4 red wires(red blk. red, red blk?) that you have to flick to get power to start the car. If not you just get accesories. I assume this was due too a bad ignition switch.

help:-wink I am clueless

You have a bad starter! It is drawing way to much that is why you "poofed" the new solenoid.
Get a new starter and get a new solenoid while you are there. Might want to check those cable's as well.

Switch??? Where is this located at? It sound's as if tho it was installed by the PO

Yes definetly new wires to the battery. Most of the covers to them fried right off!!:-fire So is this a normal thing that can happen. Scared the crap out of me!!

Now I have to check the fuseable links. Do they all lead to the solenoid??


The switch is just dangling under the dash and is wrapped in electrical tape. I plan on tracing them but they go into the dash. Maybe the ignition?

That switch is something the PO hacked in! I have no idea what they would have wired that to.

If the starter has a dead short, bad brushes or a bad armature yes it will fry out just about everything like you described. I think there should be a fusible link wire on each of the 2 small wire's for the starter solenoid.

Ok, I went through a similar problem, thinking I had a bad battery or starter, and did melt a lot of insulation on the cable to the starter. I pulled the starter and it tested perfect, as did the battery, and the solenoid (cheapest part) was already replaced. It was suggested that a better ground to the engine may help...UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR!!. This may not be your problem, but it sure cured mine for the price of a negative battery cable with bolt mounts on both ends. I ran one from a bolt on the starter, and the other to the frame. It also cured a slight miss I had, and the engine, which was new, seems even more powerful!! If the starter checks out, try this.
p.s..yes I did have the ground on the rear of the block to the firewall, as it came with from the factory, and the contact was good at both ends.

OK here we are in December and I am finally going to get to trying to fix it. Next week a friend is going to help me try to put a new starter in along with new cables. He has more experience then me at mechanics but he is still and amateur. Any tips?? Hard to replace starter etc.

Thanx all!!

Nah, ain't hard to replace. Couple of bolts and disconnect the wire. Start by disconnecting the battery and when you get it off, don't drop it on your head (it's heavy!). Wear safety glasses to keep the crud from falling in your eyes.