Hey guys, I've got another problem with my truck that I need some help figuring out. About a week ago my truck started acting like it had a weak battery(when I tried to start it I had to hold the key in the start position and just when I thought it wasnt going to start, it did). The past three days, tho, its started perfectly fine. When I tried to start it today, it wouldn't, it would just click not do anything. I figured that my battery finally died, but I wasnt sure if that was it or not, since according to the sticker on top of the battery it says its only 2 years old. Just to see if the battery was really dead, I put it in my old '85 Plymouth Voyager.. and I was able to start it right up. After talking to a friend of mine, he suggested that it might be the alternator in my truck. I really dont think that its the alternator, seeing as its only three years old. So I put the battery back in the Ford, and look at all the wires and none of them look bad(I just replaced the only one that was corroded, it was the one that goes from the negative terminal of the battery to the bottom of the starter). Just out of habit I wiggle all of the cables I can reach and check to make sure there all connected tightly, and then I get in the truck to try to start it, and it kind of hesitates for a split second, and then fires right up. I go for a little cruise, bring it back, let it set for about an hour, go back out to start it again, and it starts right up just like its supposed to.
Right now I'm leaning towards that its probably a corroded wire or cable or something like that, but I'm not sure, so any thoughts would help..

-David

 

Most auto parts stores will test the starting and charging system for you for free. When you tried to start it did it make one single click or did it click multiple times? 1 click would probably mean bad starter contacts, many fast clicks would be a dead battery (or one that isn't being charged by the alternator). Have it tested, its easier and cheaper than throwing a part at it and guessing wrong.

-Jon

 

Thanks Jon,
Thanks for your reply. When the truck wouldn't start, it only clicked once, then didnt do anything. I looked at the contacts on the starter and there both on there tightly. The only thing that caught my attention was the cable that goes from the top of the starter and runs up under the battery into the solenoid thing. Where the cable connects to starter looks fine, but where it connects to the solenoid is all wrapped in electical tape... I'll check it out tomorrow and see if its corroded underneath the tape, or anywhere else on the cable.

-Dave

 

I'll bet a doughnut on the ground wire being corroded. You need a good connection at the harness, block, and frame. Cable is 18bucks at napa.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=247709

Adrianspeeder

 

Usually a corroded starter wire will reuslt in slow cranking speed due to the reduced voltage going to the starter motor. I'm betting on bad starter contacts.

-Jon

 

I just replaced the ground wire about a month ago.. after looking at all the wires again, as I mentioned earlier, I'm thinking that the one thats bad is the one that goes from the top of the starter to the solenoid. If this cable was corroded would it cause the problems that I have mentioned?

-Dave

 

It's the tape on the connection that makes me suspicious of the cable from the solenoid to the starter. It is often quite entertaining to see what some guys will hide with a piece of electrical tape...