My trucks stranded....

[bitsdoo]

Well...trouble in paradise

My wife took the truck to drop the kids off and now it won't start, and doing some weird things. With the key out of the ignition switch I can here somethings come on under the hood and then a clicking sound (sounds like a relay/switch going in and out, in and out...).

I tried jumpering it with my car and the starter turns over vvveeerrryyy ssslllooowwwlllyyy and then it clicks several times (sounds like the starter relay clicking but hard to tell as I'm in the truck at the time).

I've tried several things and nothing worked, still getting the same problem.

Tried jumpering straight to the starter (put the booster cable right on the starter) and applying another jumper to the solenoid, same thing.

I thought maybe the power steering or A/C clutch (or any pulleys) had seized up. Loosened off the belt and all pulleys spun freely.

Checked the alt. for voltage and everything looks in check.

Checked for shorts and did find one at the headlights. I pulled the fuse at the power distribution box and left it out. Haven't fixed it yet as it is stranded in a parking lot and I'll fix it if/when I get it home. This looks like the only short as I hooked up a test light at the positive terminal and after pulling this fuse the light goes out.

I will check the voltage at the battery like I just seen on another post and see what I'm drawing when the ignition is in the ON position. Anyone else have any other ideas, I'm running out of them...

Thanks
Bitsdoo

 

[spindlecone]

try moving the steering column up and down a few times

 

[1IronMike]

Maybe your starter is fried.

 

[Blee1099]

Couple of questions, when you turn the key to On, can you hear the fuel pump? Exactly how many volts is your battery putting out without a load? I would also check your cables. If you have the stock cables on still, more than likely that is also a contributing factor. They are known to go bad internally.

 

[wired_af]

Sounds like the starter solenoid is clicking but not engaging the starter. Make sure all the solenoid connections are clean. A faulty starter solenoid can cause the starter to not engage or lose engagement, and overall poor starter performance.

 

[exploded99]

If you connect a jumper cable straight up to a starter it should have more than enough juice to crank at full speed.

Two possibilities I think - seems your starter is engaging the flywheel and cranking the engine, so starter could be bad if it turns slow - it has the juice it needs. Cables getting hot or starter getting really hot are clues to this.

You were probably using the negative battery post for ground. A 91 could have a corroded ground cable and your ground is no good.

The clicking is a bit puzzling - if you mean the starter began clicking after you had cranked it for awhile, then the starter may have gotten hot and the temperature limit switch may have cut it off to cool down. Then you would just hear the start relay click.

I'm not sure about the 1st gens having a temp limit switch - others know the 1st gens better than i do.

 

[bitsdoo]

Thanks for your help folks.

Still stranded. ..

Tried going right to the starter again and grounded off to the frame (cleaned up the area first so I had metal to metal contact)...starter is still turning slow (turns engine over twice and then the clicking of the relay begins again...)

Anymore ideas....

I will check the voltage tomorrow at the battery when off and then when the ignition is switched over.

Bitsdoo

 

[Creager]

yeah pour coke on the battery terminals

let sit for 5 minutes. try jumping off the battery again

I bet you think im lying haha, Diet Dr Pepper are my battery terminals personal favorite

 

[410Fortune]

is this an auto or 5 speed?

 

[bitsdoo]

She's an AUTO...

 

[rookieshooter]

Sounds like starter selenoid clicking. On starters that have the selenoid on them, I have taken the starter out and hooked the pos. to selenoid and ground to housing. This will let you know one way or the other.

 

[Josh]

I don't think the 91s had a temp cutout on the starter. I would pull the starter first(2 Bolts) and either hook it up to another battery and test fire it or take it to a parts store an get it tested. This way your not chasing your tail on 12 different problems at the same time. I had a problem about a month ago where the battery just quit at a gas station. Had everything from a Dodge pick up to a nissan car try to jump start me and no joy. Got a ride home and got my jumpit and it fire the truck right up. The battery was reading around 12 volts. The clickin you are hearing is most likely the solinoid on the passenger side fender. I also had the corroded cable problem to. Does'nt matter how good you clean the terminals, if the cable is corroded inside the only fix is to replace. Hope this helps

 

[bitsdoo]

Thanks for the help...still stranded (did get it home with a atow though)...

Pulled the starter and with the jumper going right to the starter it turns. Also put 12V's across the solenoid and it engaged the pinion wheel. With the cables on the starter when it is installed, the starter turns slowly and the cables get really hot!

Is it possible for the starter to still turn but be faulty? (i.e. looks OK with no load but when engaged to the flywheel not enough poer to turn the flywheel.)

Cheers
bitsdoo

 

[Josh]

Yea its possible. Does it kick hard and turn fast when you hit the starter outside of the truck? When I did mine, the starter almost jumped off the table. If it seems like the starter is spinning fine, then replace both cables. Take the starter to the parts store with you and let them verify its OK when you pick up the cables.

 

[bitsdoo]

Well...the saga continues...

Took the starter out..again (managed to break the contact on the solenoid this time ).

Hooked the battery directly to the starter and still really slow to crank. This leads me to believe one of two things...
1) The starter is toast and breaking down under load, or...
2) The engine is partially seized...hopefully not the case...

One thing that I didn't like...after pulling the starter out I put 12V's across the solenoid only and the pinion engages AND THE STARTER MOTOR TURNS SLOWLY! This isn't right is it????

Note, when putting 12V's across the motor the motor kicks and turns freely.

Checked the resistance across the positive and negative battery cables, less than one ohm of resistance on both of them.

Always open to any advice or tips.

Thanks
Bitsdoo

 

[1IronMike]

With a good starter on the deck, the bendix should kick out fast and hard. The starter should spin up fast and free. It will jump a bit but easly held with one hand. If the starter is turning slowly it is time for a new one.

 

[Fish Man]

well sounds like problem with the solinoid...can that be replaced seperately?

 

[Josh]

well sounds like problem with the solinoid...can that be replaced seperately?

Yes, its about 40 bucks at Pep Boys. Maybe 5 or 10 at the junkyard. It takes a torx bit to remove.

 

[jwinlaporte]

Dead on the road

91 Ranger Supercab 4x4 2.9L engine cranks-will not start

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.9L engine cranks-will not start. I was driving home at 40mph when "check engine" light came on and engine stopped. It's had other electrical problems that may be related somehow--1. AM radio listening is bad--static matches RPM and is super amplified. 2. Brake lights--pressing the brake pedal causes the brake lights AND the forward running lights to come on!!! 3. Turn signals do not work.

I've double checked all light bulbs and flashers all correct and functioning.
Now the truck is 15 miles away-dead in a motel parking lot. . .

 

[Joe Dirt]

please start your own thread, jwinlaporte. It will confuse the thread.