starter works sometimes?

[matter2012]

woke up yesterday drove my truck to the store spent an 2 hours there came out truck wouldn't start, battery was fine cleaned the connections on the battery still no luck towed it home (AAA free!) and it started fine, now im thinking its the cables spent some time researching the starter i have another hour before i can go outside and look around on my truck (school) ill update if i can get a chance any suggestions would be appreciated thank you

 

[koda2000]

You didn't say if you were hearing a loud "click" when you turned the key. If you hear the click but there's no cranking going on it could be the starter or the starter solenoid at fault. First get your battery checked. Auto parts stores will do this for free (autozone, advance, oreilys). Also visually inspect your battery cables and (on fords especially inspect the sheet metal battery clamps). If they look the least bit suspect replace them. If the battery checks out okay, you can pull your starter and have it tested at one of the parts stores for free. They'll test the solenoid, the function of the motor and how many amps it takes to spin it. If it makes unusual noise when spinning you can also tell if the bushings are bad. If it's the starter (my guess) you can purchase a reman with a one- year or lifetime warranty from any of the above parts stores fairly reasonably. You can purchase brand new starters, but in my opinion that’s a sucker bet.

 

[matter2012]

Well I looked around and didn't see any thing it's all muddy down there lol and it was fine till I went to leave school and it was one click and then it didn't start till I started beating it lol 3 mins later started and I drove away now I'm at work and hopefully it starts fine when I get out. Thanks for the reply and I'll have autozone look at my batt it's right next to my store

 

[racer_x_one]

If it starts after beating on it it could be a stuck/faulty solenoid as koda has mentioned. It could also be the brushes are at their end. I just had this happen to me. It was starting erratically and then one day nothing. Stranded me curb side. So I crawled under removed the starter riged up the brushes (once I realized that was the problem) to get me by and bought a new brush assembly from ebay. I wasnt about to spend $110 on a starter just for brushes. Good Luck

 

[koda2000]

$110 might not be that expensive if you don't have the time, tools, knowledge or experience to repair the starter yourself, but if you do you can certainly fix your starter for less money than it will cost you to replace it. It could be the brushes or the solenoid or both. You don't say which year/motor or trans you have, but RockAuto's prices start at $63 (w/no core charge) for a 2001 4.0 SOHC w/auto trans for example. A good soleniod runs around $15 for a starter mounted unit, but a reman starter usually will come with a new solenoid. And there's no lifetime warranty if you fix it yourself. You know what you're mechanical ability level is so do what works for you.

 

[racer_x_one]

94 4.0 A4LD and the brushes/solenoid arn't gonig to last any longer just because you have a warranty. 100 bucks is a 100 bucks no matter your skill level. I was just tring to help him out and tell him how it happened to me and how I fixed it. Most of the people on this forum are DIY'ers.

 

[matter2012]

thank you again for your responses, i have a 1998 ex sport 4.0L sohc auto trans i believe its the 55e5 (or however it goes) and i went to auto zone after i got off today and they have it in stock so ill buy the starter re manufactured with a lifetime warranty for 180 including core and i would love to do it my self but i need the truck in working condition i can deal a day of it being in the shop if they do it but who noes how long it could take if i do it and mess some thing up i dont have time to screw up so thats the route ill go thank again for the responses this i a great site!