How many wires are going to the starter? For 20 years Ford had one large wire like a 4 gauge going to it. The starter solenoid was on the fender and switched on with a red/blue wire. Then came the new light weight mini starters with a solenoid attached to it. This I think is your style. It will have the same 4 gauge wire but also a small trigger or switching wire to energize the starter. If the little trigger wire is disconnected and starter still cranks engine with key on, the new starter is messed up.

 

ya it has a soleniod on the on the fender, and what looks to be one on the starter? but i'll go try that lil wire trick and see what happens.

thanks

 

ok so i disconnected the little wire going to the starter and it wouldnt engage the starter? but as soon as i put the wire back on the stater would engage and not release (remember with the truck turned to the on position.)

my speedo needle is also Pinned past 85mph and the stereo wont turn on. this all happen when the starter went awall while driving.

 

OK, the little wire on the starter goes to its own terminal, when powered up it engages the integral solenoid and the starter cranks. If we are on tract, and with little wire disconnected there is no crank, the issue is back toward the source of ingition switch (start) circuit.

 

so its possible that the new switch that i bought from schucks could be bad? cause the old switch and new switch both to the same thing. along with both the old and new solenoid.

 

bump, i really need this truck fixed for work

 

dang it, no other input from anybody?

 

It works exactly like Good old Bill said.

Simple way to fix it - trace that small wire from the starter to the ign. switch and disconnect it from the switch. THen figure out switch terminal getting 12V only when in "start" position and connect that wire to it. Should work.

Right way to fix it (i hope). You said that your radio diesn't work and speedo reads 85 all the time. Most probably it's related with "main" problem. Disconnect battery and use ohmmeter to check the cabin, radio and instrument cluster (and engine - just in case) grounding. I guess radio and instrument cluster are grounded somewhere behind the dash (never got there yet). Cabin is grounded directly to battery (-) terminal near the batery. One of engine grounding points was seen at one of starter mounting points. Most probably there will be none, and it causes current to flow randomly.

 

the second half of that post just confused the hell out of me lol

 

Parts store solenoids are junk and like to stick which leaves the starter always cranking even with the key off. But it shouldn't do it in the run position, you should still have to turn the key to start. So I would check the ignition switch to make sure it's adjusted properly. It doesn't have a lot of adjustment though. There's a rod from the lock cylinder to the ignition switch that moves the switch when you turn the key, it may be sticking. I would remove the ignition switch and try it by hand, there's a spot where the rod inserts that you will pull with a screwdriver or something. If it still cranks in the run position then most likely the start and run wires are shorted together.