hard to start, perplexed
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
hard to start, perplexed
I have a 96 f150, standard, straight 6, 2x2.
A bit ago it became a little hard to start. You just had to find the perfect spot on the clutch to make it turn over. It was usually about 1 " up from the floor. It shifts fine, runs good, I've had it almost two years. The clutch master cylinder was replaced a bit before I bought it. I noted a noise during the test drive that I am pretty sure is the throwout bearing rattling. I had another brand of truck with that and it eventually needed replacing. Well it has not failed yet.
So now this problem. Find the perfect spot and it starts. I tried a clutch safety switch replacement and a couple of starts were better ( not perfect) and back to the same. I tried another switch hoping it just was faulty, no better. Well the problem just got much worse. I can barely start it, I have to pull, or push on the switch just to start it to drive and get parts. The relay on the passenger wall seems fine. I can jump it to trigger the starter. I was thinking of replacing the starter, because I am weaking it with all these hard starts. I am desperately in need of solving this quickly and hopefully cheaply. I see referance to jumping the clutch switch to check if it's working. The posts say jump 2 red/blue wires. Well there are red with blue stripe, white with red stripe, brown with yellow stripe, yellow with brown stripe and tan. So that does not match. The little bushing is gone on the push rod, but there is no loose fire wall mounts or other clutch problems that other posts have listed. I am at a loss as to what to do,.
Please help.
A bit ago it became a little hard to start. You just had to find the perfect spot on the clutch to make it turn over. It was usually about 1 " up from the floor. It shifts fine, runs good, I've had it almost two years. The clutch master cylinder was replaced a bit before I bought it. I noted a noise during the test drive that I am pretty sure is the throwout bearing rattling. I had another brand of truck with that and it eventually needed replacing. Well it has not failed yet.
So now this problem. Find the perfect spot and it starts. I tried a clutch safety switch replacement and a couple of starts were better ( not perfect) and back to the same. I tried another switch hoping it just was faulty, no better. Well the problem just got much worse. I can barely start it, I have to pull, or push on the switch just to start it to drive and get parts. The relay on the passenger wall seems fine. I can jump it to trigger the starter. I was thinking of replacing the starter, because I am weaking it with all these hard starts. I am desperately in need of solving this quickly and hopefully cheaply. I see referance to jumping the clutch switch to check if it's working. The posts say jump 2 red/blue wires. Well there are red with blue stripe, white with red stripe, brown with yellow stripe, yellow with brown stripe and tan. So that does not match. The little bushing is gone on the push rod, but there is no loose fire wall mounts or other clutch problems that other posts have listed. I am at a loss as to what to do,.
Please help.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
Can't fix my problem, let's try yours...
From the Schematic it looks pretty straight forward.
Components are :
-Good Battery
-20A fuse (fuse 11,F53)
-Properly working ignition Switch
-Clutch position switch , double pole
-Starter Relay
-Starter solenoid
-Starter
Sounds like you've worked with the clutch position switch
with no real improvement. So here are some other ideas:
Inspect the fuse and make sure it has good contact.
Clean both your battery cable connection and re-tighten, no
matter if it looks good or not.
Have you replaced your starter relay?
Doesn't matter if your hear it activate, contacts have to be good.
Do you have a volt /ohm meter and know how to use it?
From the Schematic it looks pretty straight forward.
Components are :
-Good Battery
-20A fuse (fuse 11,F53)
-Properly working ignition Switch
-Clutch position switch , double pole
-Starter Relay
-Starter solenoid
-Starter
Sounds like you've worked with the clutch position switch
with no real improvement. So here are some other ideas:
Inspect the fuse and make sure it has good contact.
Clean both your battery cable connection and re-tighten, no
matter if it looks good or not.
Have you replaced your starter relay?
Doesn't matter if your hear it activate, contacts have to be good.
Do you have a volt /ohm meter and know how to use it?
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 784
Likes: 13
I think aketch means the clutch safety switch. Mine went out and I just bypassed it. You can jump out the two blue and red wires on the switch. Just make sure you're in neutral. If this doesn't fix the issue I'd look at maybe the ignition switch
