Inconsistent starter/clicking on 7.3

frankenyoter

frankenyoter

No Rain, No Rainbow
Joined
Mar 17, 2009
Location
DARK CITY
97 F250 w a 5 speed

Some days I can hop in and the starter fires first turn. Other times it will click click click until it fires (sometimes a clicks but recently it took 10 minutes). New batteries and good looking terminals.

I bought a starter last weekend to install, and now as if taunting me it starts first turn every time. I had this click issue start a year or so ago and it seemingly fixed itself until recently.

Am I missing something?
 
Does that truck have a starter solenoid on the firewall? Stick it in neutral, turn the key to "on", and lay a screwdriver or something across the posts on the starter solenoid, see if it starts.

Fair warning: Some of those later trucks had a module that "looked" like the old starter solenoids, but was basically just a junction block.
 
Starter solenoid will be on the starter its self ...I'd say its time for a new starter ! I had the same problem on my 95 7.3 ,the solenoid on the starter was shot, it would work one time and the next just click and click . Put and new one on it and be done with it !
 
Kinda what I thought Cody. Nice to know somebody else had similar issues. I found a listing for the solenoid itself, but I figured why bother just change the whole thing and be done.
 
If it continues before replacing the starter do a voltage drop test to the big wire on the starter. If it passes, and the solenoid signal wire on the starter has 12v, then you without a doubt it needs a starter.
 
mysterync said:
If it continues before replacing the starter do a voltage drop test to the big wire on the starter. If it passes, and the solenoid signal wire on the starter has 12v, then you without a doubt it needs a starter.
Click to expand...

Would you mind providing a little how to on the voltage drop test? I don't want to make any assumptions.

I would much rather spend the starter money on my build. I drove the truck all day and probably hit the key 15 plus times and it never clicked once, just fired right up.
 
frankenyoter said:
Would you mind providing a little how to on the voltage drop test? I don't want to make any assumptions.

I would much rather spend the starter money on my build. I drove the truck all day and probably hit the key 15 plus times and it never clicked once, just fired right up.
Click to expand...
Initially verify battery voltage at the b+ starter terminal, and battery voltage at the signal with the key switch in start posistion.
With a dvom take the negative lead to the positive battery terminal, and the positive to the battery terminal on the starter, attempt to start the vehicle. 0v would be a perfect connection? Anything over 2-3 volts would indicate high resistance, obviously higher would indicate more resistance.
 
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