Truck keeps cranking with key off when cold

[scoarch]

Hi all.
i have a 93 exp with the 4.0 engine.
when i go to start it in the morning it will crank over and fire right up but then the starter keeps cranking. i shut off the key and it still cranks over. move the key to the run position and engine fires up but starter is still turning over. this will happen 2 or 3 times and then will quit , usually after burping the throttle a bit. once the truck has been ran it is good for the whole day. seems to only be in the morning that i have this problem.
any advice would be much appreciated. thanks to all

 

[Forder]

shut off the key and it still cranks over.

It's still trying to start after you shut off the key? If I misinterpreted this, then I would assume you need a new starter or if you can, re-build your current one because it seems your starter gear is not retracting back into the starter after turning/starting the flywheel gear. I would at least take the starter off and take it to the nearest place (I.E. Advanced Auto) and have them put it on their diagnostic machine. I just did that with mine last night, actually because of the issue seen in my thread here too. It's too easy to take off, bout 2 bolts, 2 cables, and 15 mins.

Here's ya some testing/removal instructions.

 

[scoarch]

i was wondering if the bendix spring was screwed , but it still cranks with the key turned to the off position. and only when cold. i was told by the original owner that the starter was new. now i was wondering if it could be a faulty starter selinoid?


thanks for the reply and link

 

[smbracing]

sounds like a bad solenoid (the one on the fender probably, not the starter)

 

[Robrt32]

sounds like a bad solenoid (the one on the fender probably, not the starter)

YEP, I had this very same issue on an older Ford Truck.... My money would be on solenoid too.... Its cheap so ruling it out would be definitely be where I'd start

 

[Nedwreck]

Yup, I put a solenoid on "her" Explorer less than a week ago.. just for this problem.

 

[Maniak]

We recently had this problem. It started to happen after the last trip to truckhaven. I figured it was dirt in the solenoid..

After a few days it stopped doing it.. then a few days later the starter didn't turn over and it acted like I had a short. Sure enough, the starter was then toast..

I replaced the starter (which has a solenoid on it, but different than the one on the fender) and the wire that melted.. All was fine after that..

At first I too thought it was the fender solenoid, until the starter shorted out.

~Mark

 

[bisjoe]

I had this happen on one that did this, and eventually I had to disconnect the battery to stop the starter from running. Turned out the shaft was bent, so the
gear couldn't return.

 

[mikeinri]

Sounds like two main possibilities, as mentioned. Start with the fender solenoid. Those are less than $20 and take 10 minutes to replace. If that doesn't do it, I'd replace the starter.

Another possibility is a bad battery cable, but somewhat less likely.

Hope this helps.

Mike

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

Solenoid. Fixed it for me.