Ignition problem

[bob_2221]

I have a 1962 Econoline pickup. About 2 months ago I was out with the truck. I stopped for a couple of hours and when I went to start it there was nothing. Assuming the start solenoid was bad I replaced that, and still nothing. I then thought the ignition switch was bad so I replaced that, and still nothing. The battery is new. The pink resistance wire measures 1.9 ohms which I believe is proper. I cannot for love nor money get the start solenoid to pull in, (unless I ground the one side of it and then it pulls in when I turn the key on). Has anyone else had this problem? I am really stumped on this one. Thanks for your time. Bob

 

[dmsfrr]

I cannot for love nor money get the start solenoid to pull in, (unless I ground the one side of it and then it pulls in when I turn the key on). Has anyone else had this problem? I am really stumped on this one. Thanks for your time. Bob

I'm not understanding what you're doing when you say you're 'grounding' the starter solenoid, please explain. It looks like this one, right?
There should be 12v power to the 'S' terminal (red arrow in this photo) when the key is held in the 'Start' position.

 

[bob_2221]

Yes, looks like that one. I think I have the correct drawing which shows one of the control wires coming from the ignition switch to the solenoid and the other one going back to the ignition switch. When I ground the return wire then the solenoid will pull in. Thank you.

 

[CrownVic55]

Sounds like your solenoid has lost ground to body. Check the two mounting screws for being tight and you may have to clean fender where solenoid mounts.
Ben

 

[dmsfrr]

On your solenoid... the 'S' terminal gets 12v power from the start position of the ignition switch to energize the solenoid. The 'I' terminal sends full 12v power to the coil, bypassing the ignition resistor/wire during starting.

If you touch a jumper wire from the '+' terminal to the 'S' terminal (trans in neutral, wheels blocked) the solenoid should energize itself (with a solid easy to hear click), and the starter, which should turn the engine.

Like CrownVic55 said, you may have a bad ground.
If the solenoid body has a good clean connection to the truck body but will not energize try connecting a temporary ground wire from the battery '-' cable to a solenoid mounting bolt.

The lug bolt fitting end of the '-' battery cable should fasten somewhere on the block or head, not the truck body.
There should also be a heavy duty electrical 'ground' strap/wire between the body and the engine, or... sometimes another wire that's part of the '-' battery cable, that fastens to the body.
It provides a return path to the '-' terminal of the battery for everything electrical that's grounded to the body.
I suspect your body to engine wire/strap may be loose, broken or have rusty connections.
If any 'ground' connections are loose or corroded they will cause problems.

FYI, Photo, here's an alternate version of the solenoid wiring in some Fords, depending on the under-hood position of the battery and starter cables, they're just swapped side to side. The solenoid works the same either way.

 

[bob_2221]

Thank you for the input gentlemen. I will give this a try. I do appreciate the help. Bob

 

[Motorhead6]

I went through 3 bad new solenoids from NAPA before I went to O'Reilly's and got a made in USA Borg Warner one that worked.

 

[Alaska Jim]

good parts are getting harder and harder to find. bet you had to argue with the people at napa about them being bad, especially since you had 3 bad ones in a row. most times no return on electrical parts.

 

[Motorhead6]

good parts are getting harder and harder to find. bet you had to argue with the people at napa about them being bad, especially since you had 3 bad ones in a row. most times no return on electrical parts.

Actually, they must be used to returns of the imported junk because there were no questions about it. Of course they know me and took my word for it. Echelin ain't what it used to be.

 

[bob_2221]

I finally got around to looking at the truck and the starter issue. With much blush on my face I must admit my wrong here. When I originally suspected the starter solenoid there was one at my work that they were going to throw away. So I thought I would be smart and take it to use, perfect timing I thought! So after many wasted hours and your helpful tips I ordered the right part. And wouldn't you know it, it worked the first time and each one since then! Thank you so much for all of your help and input. And now it is time to put it away for the winter! Ha!
(Hey Motorhead6- I see you live in Orange Park. Say hello to my sister, she lives in Orange Park too.)

 

[dmsfrr]

Now that you've got it working after all that, you'd better not put it away for at least a few more weeks or we'll all come over and throw things at you.

(but Wis. is kind of far away, oh well)

 

[Motorhead6]

I finally got around to looking at the truck and the starter issue. With much blush on my face I must admit my wrong here. When I originally suspected the starter solenoid there was one at my work that they were going to throw away. So I thought I would be smart and take it to use, perfect timing I thought! So after many wasted hours and your helpful tips I ordered the right part. And wouldn't you know it, it worked the first time and each one since then! Thank you so much for all of your help and input. And now it is time to put it away for the winter! Ha!
(Hey Motorhead6- I see you live in Orange Park. Say hello to my sister, she lives in Orange Park too.)

Is your sister a motorhead too or is your brother-in-law? I was at Road America last month.

Glad you figured it out. Not to be embarrassed, we have all done worse.

 

[bob_2221]

Motorhead6, neither one of them are car persons. I am the black sheep.
Road America is a great venue, about 45 minutes north of me. Thanks again for
your help. Bob