I also posted this in the Electrical thread.. Just trying to get an answer..

Hello all,

I found this place searching for some help on my father in laws truck. He has a 92 F150 with the straight 6 in it. The problem he is experiencing is the truck won't start. He has replaced the battery, battery cables, starter, alternator, voltage regulator..etc.. this is what he told me he replaced.

When we try to start it, all it does is drain the battery and the lights go dim. Does this have a solenoid switch on the fender ? Could that be the problem?

I had a similar problem with my wifes escort way back in the days and this was the problem and I replaced it and it worked.

If this is not the correct place to post this I appologize.

Thanks !

P.S. I own a 2003 Explorer XLT 4x4 V8... love this thing !

 

Yes it does, i had to replace it on my f-150 for the exact same problem. It is on the fender right next to the battery.

-Jon

 

I went over to his house tonight to take a look at it.. Well he replaced the solenoid switch on the fender by the battery. One side we are getting full strength(12 volts) but on the the other side the signal wire that runs to the starter isn't getting hardly anything. My test light just flickers when he tries to start it. We are also getting full strength to the positive cable on the starter.

Also after cranking it over a couple times the negative cable on the battery gets hot to the touch. This should not happen. The truck just clicks over and doesn't even try to turn over.

To me it sounded like a dead battery so I tried jumping it with my explorer and it still doesn't start..

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks !

 

check to make sure your solenoid is gronded against the inner fender good. If you have 12v on the batt side of the fender solenoid that means nothing under a load - starters pull around 200amps while cranking a cold engein over....

 

Make sure your ground on the engine is good as well as the solenoid as pointed out earlier. Sounds like you know quite a bit as far as stuff to check, without overstating the obvious check the battery cable under the plastic coating at each end of the connection. good luck!

 

Thanks for all the help.. I looked at it again yesterday and took the ground wire from the battery to the starter off to check it. I cut away the protective layer and the entire inside of the cable is rusty and wet like liquid rust.. I think I have found the problem.. I will let you know when we replace it hopefully tonight.