I have a 1987 Ford F150 custom with the 4.9l l6 and 4 speed manual. My truck was running fine into about 4 days ago when we had to replace the wiper motor for are state inspection and since we replaced it the engine isnt getting any grounding for the starter. Every time we turn the key to the ON position the starter comes on but we can start the truck if we turn the key to start. The starter was replaced about a month ago and so was the starter solenoid. We had to disconnect the grounding cable from the engine to the wiper motor mounting bracket to take off the old wiper motor when we removed it we found the connector was broken. Since we replaced the connector we cant get much grounding so we cant move the truck very far unless you want to listen to the whining noise from the starter. The truck is my only vehicle and I use it to haul scrap vehicles to the scrap yard so if anyone knows of any way of fixing it that would be helpful since Im a certified mechanic and I cant find the full cause but I keep going back to the same wire. Also is there anyway that wire can be relocated to the firewall or the frame to get it to ground properly.

It only makes the sound with the Key in the ON position and when you start the engine.

 

Run as many ground wires as you think are necessary. Make sure that all of them have a metal to metal contact point. Bad grounds make bad circuts, and are hard to isolate. To isolate bad grounds, in the past I have used my jumper cables (both of them) hooked to the battery negative terminal and to the body/frame to insure there is a real circuit.