Sean Steele

I have a 1990 F150, 5.8L V8, last Friday I changed out the starter and the starter solenoid. For the last few day it has started & ran great. This morning I jump in and starts fine. I drive a 1/2 mile to the gas station and it won't restart. I had the battery tested last week and it checked out fine so I tried jumping the new solenoid and it struggle for a moment and then fires up. Is the new solenoid bad already or could it be something bigger? Any thoughts and advice appreciated!

Thank you in advance!
Sean

Ford 4x4

if you just replaced them they shouldnt be bad. check for bad wires or grounds.

Sean Steele

It was a pretty wet/foggy morning today. Could the moisture wreck havoc like this today and why I haven't had a problem the last few days?

dirtcrew51m

Also check the alternator, see if the battery is reading around 14 volts. If not alternator or battery going bad.

dirtcrew51m

Moisture should have no affect on the system.

Sean Steele

I had the battery tested a week ago and it tested out good.

dirtcrew51m

Usually the solenoid either works or it does not, when starting the truck, feel the cable going to the starter, if it is getting hot you might have gotten a bad starter, also like I said check the battery for around 14v, and around 13 when the truck is off.

Sean Steele

The cable that plugs onto the solenoid and runs to the starter did not feel hot. A few of the mechanic guys at my work were saying that solenoids on older Fords are notorious for crapping out.

dirtcrew51m

If you replaced the solenoid it should not be an issue, but then again new things do go bad, also it might sound silly but check and see if your motor is tight when it is cold, try the solenoid and see what happens, if it is not the new starter might be bad, I have had a bunch of new and reman starters come back to the store. I have one customer who went through two reman starters before he got one that worked.

Sean Steele

Please forgive my ignorance for I am not a mechanic by any means. But, if the new reman starter was bad, would it still start if bypassing the solenoid would then start the truck?