Starter Problems

[CaveShvig]

Hello to all - new to the forum...

My "new" truck is a 1986 F350 with 460 and 4-spd manual.

Trying to figure out a starter problem. Starter had become hard to start - would sometimes start after tapping with hammer. Replaced the starter today. Got nothing when I tried it and nothing when I tried to attach jumper cables to it outside the vehicle. Tried that with its own battery and with another vehicle while it was actually running. Figured I got a bad starter, so I took it back. But... It ran out and rotated just fine for them!

So, trying to track down the problem, I tried bypassing the solenoid on the fender. I removed the heavy gauge wire from the solenoid and touched it straight to the hot post on the battery. It was obviously taking power (welded to the post), but no starter movement. I took the cable off at the starter as well and cleaned both ends (nice and shinny). I checked the cable and it showed zero ohms resistance (though, I guess that would show me if it ALSO had a short). Put it back - same results.

Replace the cable now?

 

[Fellro]

How about grounds? Make sure the ground cable is also tight and making good connection. Be certain the cables at the battery also make a good connection.

 

[CaveShvig]

Well, it got worse

I replaced the heavy gauge hot cable from solenoid to starter. Then, I got nothing. Battery appeared to have died for some reason in the interim. I charged it for several days with a trickle charger and got ... nothing. So, I pulled an old battery from another trucj\k and charged it. Hooked it up and tried to start. This time, it turned over and didn't start, but then kept turning over! Turned off the ignition and it still kept turning over. When I saw smoke under the hood, I snatched the hot cable off the battery. I'm not sure where the smoke was coming from - it was a hot day and sun was shining on the engine, so maybe just fuel vaporization, but that's a bit spooky. I have not found any burnt wiring or soot marks yet. Bought a new ignition switch to try that first...

 

[jebadiah04]

If its sticking on it can be a bad ignition switch or solenoid. Id start at the selenoid much easier to change

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