Bossfan03

I have an 87 F150 with the 5.0 engine. I replaced the starter and battery 2 weeks ago. I went out to start it this morning and got absolutely nothing. No click, no sound at all. I put a new solenoid on and still nothing. If I jump start it by turning the key on and placing a wrench on the post of the solenoid the battery wire is hooked to and the small post that the wire from the fuse box(?) is on, it starts. If I jump start it by turning the key on and placing a wrench on the 2 big posts on the solenoid, it starts.... But it doesn't do anything if I just turn the key to start it normally. Anyone have any other ideas as to what this could be? I am a novice mechanic at best and any help will never greatly appreciated!

Slicknick547

It could be in the ignition, that's the only thing that I can think of. It starts up and runs when you cross the sillinoid right?

Bossfan03

No, it doesn't do anything when I cross the solenoid.

When I turn the key to try and start it like I normally would, all I hear is the solenoid clicking.

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

That little wire on the solenoid is coming (indirectly) from the ignition switch on the column. When you turn the key to start it should get power - use a test light to verify this, I don't think you're getting power to that wire from what you've said.
In this exact section (electrical) there is a thread titled "good old ford starting problems" or some such, find that and start reading.

Bossfan03

After some trial and error and trying different things, it has been determined that the wire running from the solenoid to the starter is bad. Now I'm hoping the auto parts store sells that wire with the proper connections on the ends and the right length

Bossfan03

I thought I had everything working after replacing the cable that runs from the solenoid to the starter. After doing so, it started right up. I tried it a couple of times and it worked fine. The next morning I went out to start it and it was dead. No lights no nothing. I checked the battery terminals and the positive one was kind of loose and the bolt was too rusted to tighten it so I went and got a new terminal. Put the new one on and started right up. Drove it to work. When I went out to the truck to go home, it was dead. Both terminals were tight. I jiggled the wire coming from the pos terminal to the solenoid and then tried to start it and it started. I On the way home I stopped at the store. When I got back in to start it, the starter was grinding. After a couple of tries it just started spinning. I had a broom in the bed of the truck so I opened the hood and poked the starter and it was loose (the old one had gotten loose before and made the same sound). When I put this new starter on a couple of weeks ago I made sure it was tight. So I had to have it towed home. When the truck and I got home, I got under it and tightened the bolts real good again. It started right up...so now I figure I'm in good shape. Well I got in it toddy and went to start it and it started with the grinding sound and the negative battery terminal and the 2 wires coming off of it were extremely hot! Is it possible that whatever made the cable and terminal so hot is also causing the starter to grind? If I replace the negative battery terminal and ground coming off it, will that take care of it getting so hot and keep the starter from grinding? I'm at a loss as to how it can be one thing after another...this truck sat for a long time when my Father in Law had it and I'm wondering if things just got dry rotted or something....thank you so much for any info or suggestions!