I could use a little help. When I try to start the car is "sounds" like I have a dead battery. Not the "click-click-click" sound, but the "wump-wump-wump" sound of a dying battery. HOWEVER, the battery is new and I'm 100% it's not dead. When the car is running the battery checks out fine with a meter as well, so I'm ruling out the alternator. After it "wumps" for a while it will start (most of the time). BUT, the starter solenoid began to smoke yesterday and the solenoid, the negative battery cable and the black cable that goes to the starter were as hot as H3LL. I'm going to replace the starter solenoid and the cable to the starter as well as clean all the connections. Could there be an issue with the starter as well? Should I check / replace anything else? Thanks in advance for your help. :confused:
I'm thinking the starter has a problem. I would take starter and solenoid to the rebuilt shop and have them test it. I'd rather do that and be sure than replace the solenoid and then have to pull the starter again. Most rebuilders will test it free anyway.....
Yes, I agree that your starter's on its way out. I also think that the cabling is too old to continue on, and you should replace it, preferably with thicker cabling. The average start on an older car with everything good can still pull 150-200 amps during cranking. Also, if you're not married to the old design starter motor and it has a Windsor, you might be able to install a newer-design PMGR starter, which can go with the thinner-gauge Ford cabling. It would just require a couple simple changes to the starter circuit cabling design.
If Ford prices are comparable to GM a rebuilt starter and a solonoid are not a bad price and worth the trouble of messing around repairing the old one. Check all grounds also.
If it uses the same starter and solenoid as the Windsor in the late-70s Thunderbird, the starter, brand new, is $130,and the solenoid is $12. In Canadian dollars. Neither is hard to change. I always up grade from the factory 4 gauge cables. I run 1 gauge wires for positive, negative and starter. All in, the whole lot is less than $200 in parts, and takes a couple of hours to change.
Fords have so many different starter nose cone configurations it gets very confusing. Ford starters also pull MORE juice than any other starter. Upgrade the cables is a winner idea, and I would replace the starter(or get rebuilt) and the solenoid. Do NOT forget to upgrade the ground straps/cables also! A weak ground can do this too.
I did it on my '79 Ranchero, which I put a 351W/C4 into; the starter was $8 at the local u-pull yard, and the factory 4GA. cables are salvaged from an Exploder 4.0L swap (they were attached to the donor engine). I'll see if I can find my thread on Ranchero.us.
These prices and a few others sound more like it. Stay away from the dealership! Starters alternators, and related parts are not really that expensive or difficult to change. When son changed engines in his 85 Chevy truck to a 1993 TBI he found a rebuilt starter with the paper tag still on it for $12 at U-Pull-It. A non holiday that would be $24.00. Also some yards charge scrap metal prices only. Scrap is now $3 a 100# here. Some Ford parts are cheaper. Sometimes used is better than overseas rebuilt.
The ground for the old Ford's is a simple length of wire. It grounds directly to the block, passenger side, just below number one spark plug. Some will ground on the air pump if there is one. I run a second, 4 gauge, from the battery to the body, as well as keeping the ground strap from body to engine.
Thanks All! I put in a new starter, solenoid and all associated cables. I also cleaned all contact points. Now it starts like it's pissed off! I turn the key 1/2 way and she is on. It's amazing what a good electrical connection and good grounds will do. Thanks for the help.
