Truck is a 94 f150 4x4 5 speed 302. OK, I left my truck sitting for a few months at a friends house and when I went to get it out for the winter it would not start. We got it to start with a screw driver on the solenoid. After that it worked fine, started right up for about 2 weeks then nothing. I tried the screw driver trick again and still nothing. I bought a new solenoid and still nothing. Screw driver wouldn't work. I had it towed to a friends and we took off the starter and it works with power from the battery. Put the started back on. Broke the bolt by the way. C clamped the starter. My friends dad said it was a ground problem. He took an old negative battery cable, attached it to the bolt on the fender (where the little ground wire comes from the battery) to the alternator bracket. It fired right up and its been running ever since. I asked him what was wrong and he doesn't know. He said to just replace all my grounds. I was wondering two things. One, what was wrong. I know power wasn't getting to the starter but why would a cable from the fender to the alternator bracket fix it? Two, anyone have a list of where the grounds on this truck are. I'm going to replace them, I just would like to know how many there are. And where their at on the truck. So I don't miss any. Whats the best cable to get? Thanks, I have to go to bed right now for work. I'll get on tomorrow. Thanks to anyone that helps. I'm new to working on cars and new to this site.

Paul

 

No one has any ideas?

Paul