Help! Problem starting

[QT_X]

Hey guys! I need your help... I have a 92 EB, last night my truck won't start. What is funny is that the whole day, it was fine until after work... frist I turned the key and all my lights came on but the engine is not cranking, what I hear is just a "tick" and nothing happen. I tried a couple of time and still no success. Open my hood, don't see anything abnormal then tried again, after a couple of time, it started. Very strange, no clue about what problem it might be??

Does anyone encounter this problem before or know something about this...

Thanks in advance for all your help.

 

[silver stripe]

hey, does your truck have eather a remote starter or a alarm?

 

[Alec]

The way you describe it, it's either a low battery, faulty battery cables, or a bad starter solenoid. I'd get the battery load tested and check your cables. If that checks out, wait for the problem to happen again. If you can jumper the 2 main posts on the starter solenoid with a screwdriver and start the truck, it's the solenoid.

 

[QT_X]

No, I do not have an alarm or remote starter. Alec, where can I find the starter solenoid and what does it looks like?

thanks
Quang

 

[Alec]

It should be mounted to your driver fender (may be passenger side on an early model). It is a large squat cylinder with 3 or 4 terminals: 2 large and 1 or 2 small. One larger terminal gets power from the battery and the other large one sends power to the starter. The smaller terminals are for signals.

Jumpering the 2 large terminals bypasses the solenoid. If it doesn't start, put the key to "on" and see if bypassing the solenoid works.

 

[Doug904]

Sounds like your starter's is on the way out. Ford now installs the solonoids on the starter but still uses what they call a starter relay on the firewall, looks like the old soloniods.

Even if you get it tested then it could show good but still not work at times. First check all of your wiring to make sure everythings tight and if so I'm willing to bet it's a starter. They aren't cheap but when it finally won't start anymore niether is a tow bill .

Later Doug904.

 

[QT_X]

Hi Alec, I tried to jump the starter solenoid with a screw driver like you said but nothing happen. I see little sparks though... is that normal? Now my X won't start at all... What part should I replace? The starter or the starter solenoid... By the way, where is the starter located on a 92 explorer EB edition?

Thanks for your help guys

 

[Alec]

Then it's most likely the starter. It's accessable from under the truck, held on with 2 or 3 bolts.

I'd check the electrical connections at the starter first to make sure they're not the problem.