Ignition problem

Sometimes it starts fine, sometimes just a click. Then, it will start fine. The click. You get the idea. Sounds like a loose wire/ground. But, the battery light just came on. I'm at a bit of a loss. Connection look good. Battery is new. Alternator wouldn't do this, would it? Argh, I hate electrical problems.

Thank you.

Brad

bet it is the Starter solenoid. I had same problem, took solenoid apart, they are designed poorly IMHO, as the ground wire inside the solenoid is just loose pressed aginst the metal, not "bonded" to the ground terminal. Replaced it and problem went away, could come back a few years out.

[ Double check the battery terminals, take them off clean them and put back on. ]

Another problem area is the alternator connector, check to see if it is hot or melted. The connector is undersized and in the long term can cause high resistance, melt, cause the alternator PCB to burn. Mine caught on fire while driving down expressway, lots of fun, and smoke. I replaced the alternator with I think it is called a type 3, has a bolt to connect high current wires too, no problems now, a known problem with the old altinator, most fleets of fords had them replaced a few years ago. If you do this, have them check the resistance wire from altinator to distribution point, to see if they are good, ford paralleled two resistance wires, (not good either)

Good luck and let us know what you find

- 1993 5.0 8#

Hey Chum. I'm not sure what I found. I cleaned all the cables, but the voltage tester on it and it all came out good. I think there's a loose connection there somewhere. I just tigthened it all and it worked.

Then, driving it, I stopped and the fuel pump didn't engage. After a few tries it did. ARGH! So maybe the connection problem is solved, now the pump. Any thougths on that?

I guess these cars are starting to get old. I'm tempted to get something newer but I wonder if they're any better. I like my 5.0 though - you don't see them around much anymore.

Thanks again!

Brad

Last time I had to solve that one, I ended up with a routine starting procedure involving a long screwdriver and shorting between the block and the solenoid. Started every time.

Eventually got down to the ignition switch, which had worn to the point where the starting position was making intermittent contact.

Keep your tank at least half full since it sounds like your fuel pump is going bad. The fuel helps cool it and keep it from seizing up. They have a habit of dying at the worst possible time.

click. You get the idea. Sounds like a loose wire/ground. But, the battery light just came on. I'm at a bit of a loss. Connection look good. Battery is new. Alternator wouldn't do this, would it? Argh, I hate electrical problems.

I'm not sure which years but there was a recall on the ignition switch for the Fox bodies for the type of symptoms you describe. My old 88 (or the 89) went from always starting and having zero electrical problems to not wanting to start to having all sorts of crazy problems in less then a weeks time. It was the ignition switch.

Ashton Crusher wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

I believe there was even a recall on the ignition switch years ago if memroy serves me correctly, at least for my 88 GT 5.0

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Only other thing I can think of is that the fuel pump should comes on with ignition turned 1/2 way (before car started) , you can hear the humm in the back for about 3 seconds as it gets to pressure, with car not running.

Is that what you mean when you said the fuel pump did not engage ? The missing sound ? But the starter worked.......?

Sould would also be missing if pump is up to pressure, or car was running, turned off, then restarted. You can take the matt out of the back trunk and hear the sound louder.

You can check the voltage to the fuel pump to see if the ignition switch is intermittent(?) havent run into that one.

Seems curious, intermittant problem would move around, but the intermittant starter solinoid problem could still be there if you did not replace it.