Starting problems: now just a click when turning key. Starting difficulty similar to tired battery, worse when engine warm/hot. I began at battery, terminals, connections to relay which fell apart when backing nuts for connections, replaced relay(with backup I keep in glove box, new), no change. Replaced starter motor, wrapped small exhaust leak at pipe connection close to starter motor thinking heat, no change. Key turn always been sticky needing assist to turn back from starter motor engage, was used to it, research had me pulling wheel for that aluminum arm thing, it was fine, then down to enguage switch on column they say falls apart, that's fine...except a little sticky from dust/grease/grime, cleaned all that up. Now thinking back to starter relay, but what else? Perhaps something signalling the relay isn't? Screwdriver jump over relay and engine kicks like it should, runs perfect, shuts off with key, but only a click when turning key normally to start. Thinking relay gone bad from sitting in glovebox a few years but how likely? Any other wire/connector/fuse, etc between key and relay I need to check? Please no "81 pin ohm check to such 'n such computer" advice, last Ford was a '74 250, pure analog, I'm barely proficient with that multi meter thing.

 

Make sure that the signal wire on the starter relay is getting 12v when the key is in the "start" position. And make sure that the relay has a good ground. You can try supplying 12v from the battery straight to the signal post on the starter relay, and see what that does.

 

Turns out was a bad starter solenoid, two actually, settled on the Motorcraft at twice the price but well worth it. Thanks for the reply, I everything you suggested including the tests, simply a bad solenoid.