Relay Troubles
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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Relay Troubles
I have a 1986 F150 that has some relay issues... i think
when i first got the truck the battery was dead and the guy went to jump it. upon doing so the truck tried to start itself and walk across the parking lot. I left that day and he said he fixed the problem and I went back to get the truck. I stole the thing for 600$ and didnt expect it to be as good as it has been. I never asked him exactly what he did to fix it.
yesterday I was doing some door skins and during this time the radio was on. Time got away from me and when I went to start the truck I killed the battery. Once the battery tried a couple times with no luck the truck then went to start itself again and again (without the key) until the battery was completly drained.
It does have a relay on the fender. The power from the battery first goes to this relay before anything else. I'm not sure if the relay is factory. Is the problem just that the relay doesnt have enough juice to click back? is that why when the batt is low the starter engages?
when i first got the truck the battery was dead and the guy went to jump it. upon doing so the truck tried to start itself and walk across the parking lot. I left that day and he said he fixed the problem and I went back to get the truck. I stole the thing for 600$ and didnt expect it to be as good as it has been. I never asked him exactly what he did to fix it.
yesterday I was doing some door skins and during this time the radio was on. Time got away from me and when I went to start the truck I killed the battery. Once the battery tried a couple times with no luck the truck then went to start itself again and again (without the key) until the battery was completly drained.
It does have a relay on the fender. The power from the battery first goes to this relay before anything else. I'm not sure if the relay is factory. Is the problem just that the relay doesnt have enough juice to click back? is that why when the batt is low the starter engages?
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 963
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From: Lake Lafayette ,Mo
It sounds like you are talking about the starter solenoid. It is mounted on the fender with a big wire. Connected to positive side of the battery one going to starter and two other connections with smaller wires. They are pretty inexpensive to buy new and can cause some strange problems when failing.