Starter Solenoid Failures

Jun 13, 2004 6 Replies
A

Hi all,



I posted a while back about my '86 F150 eating starter solenoids and am now ready to just give up. I have replaced the starter, all starter cables, checked the block ground stud, run a separate cable from the ground stud on the block to one of the mounting bolts for the starter, replaced 4 solenoids, cleaned the mounting screw holes for the solenoid to ensure good ground at the solenoid, cleaned and checked the starter switch. Each time I try it out it welds the contacts in 10-15 sec of cranking. Any suggestions before I put this truck out of my misery?



TIA



Ammonman


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U

I am not sure if I responded to this before but have you tryed buying a solenoid right the the Ford dealer. I went through this on a Ford 302 and gave up on Autozone solenoids.

Amm> Hi all,

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A

Thanks guys for the suggestion, hadn't thought of that. I'll give it another go-around with an OEM solenoid and see how she fares.

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N

How many amps is the starter drawing?

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S

Another issue you may want to address is why you are having to crank it so long.

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R

Have you checked the amperage draw on the starter?

Have you checked all the cells of the battery with a hydrometer, a good hydrometer?

The starter might be a cheapo rebuilt, and drawing way too much current, way over the amperage rating for the solenoid.

Do an amperage draw test after checking the battery with a good hydrometer, after charging the battery well. uniformity between cells is more important than total specific gravity. Unless it is way too low after a good charge. Then that's one of your problems.

Refinish King

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