I have a 1986 F 150 302 2 wd auto with all the options except tach. In the past 14 or 15 months I have had probably 12 to 14 starters installed at many different shops all of the mechanics say either that new starter will fix the problem or they do not know what is causing it. After starting the truck sometimes the starter fails to retract from the flex plate and burns the starter up. No one seems to have any idea why this is happening but it is getting expensive and I am now afraid to take the truck anywhere as I have had it toed to many times. I have used many different brands of starters thinking that may be the problem to no avail. I like the truck and intend to keep it. Just had a new engine installed. Any help on this problem would be appreciated.
Regards
Keith

 

Have you checked that the bell housing is square to the block. Make sure the bolts arnt too long. Thats the simpler things i can think of.

 

May sound silly but is the ignition switch mechanism in the steering column fully releasing. There have been issues with internal parts breaking and the lubricant hardening up causing sticking in the column.

 

Thatscwhere i was headed next. The mire tricky things to diagnose. But well probably never hear from him again.

 

I have had one mechanism replaced on the column so far but will replace it again with a different brand. I will have the tranny pulled and check that also might as well put a new flex plate on.
Thanks for the help

 

No, DON'T simply replace any parts. DIAGNOSE the problem first. New parts are NOT as reliable as originals, so the more you change, the more problems you're likely to have. Find the problems (and there are probably a few), and repair them (which does NOT necessarily mean replacing anything) using the best techniques, chemicals, and (if necessary) parts available.

Have you taken pics of any of the failed starters? How exactly had they failed? Exactly what brands & suppliers were the bad starters? Why didn't you take it back to the FIRST shop as soon as their replacement starter failed again? They should have either fixed it again free, or refunded your money since they didn't fix anything. What happened to the truck just before the first starter failed? Why have you let it go THIS LONG and this many times? Take it back to the LAST shop that took your money, and make THEM find/fix the problem, or refund your money.

If you want help to DIY, we need to see ALL the truck's details & history in your signature as this caption explains, so we can review them with each reply:

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Your signature is better than most, but it's missing the transmission model, t-case model (or 2WD), the mileage, the tire size, cab size, bed size, gears, etc., and the maintenance/damage/repair/modification history. (And the ALLCAPS makes it hard to look at.) It could be reduced to: 86 XLT 5.0EFI tilt cruise A/C PW/PL trlr.pkg. plus all the missing data. Follow the link in that caption to learn how to embed pics in your posts. We need to see the starter, its cables, the bellhousing, the battery, its terminals, its cables, the starter relay on the fender, those cables & terminals, the whole engine bay (from several angles, including several below), the dash, the steering column, the ignition switch, the dash wiring...

If you don't have a Haynes manual, read this caption:

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When you have one, READ IT. Cover-to-cover, eventually, so you know what's in it & where to find things.