Starter solenoid question.

[constant_projecttruck]

When I try to start my truck it sometimes fires right and sometimes makes a loud grinding noise. There is absolutely no pattern to it it just does it from time to time.

So on my chevy the solenoid is on the side of the starter. On my ford the solenoid is seperate right? Its mounted to the inner fender right? So if my starter grinds and only starts sometimes when it wants to...it would be the solenoid? Because I bought a starter already and the solenoid is on the fender I think. Would the solenoid be the problem.

 

[martin]

Depends on the motor and year of the truck. The 4 liters have the solenoid on the side of the starter, the one on the fender is a dummy.

 

[constant_projecttruck]

Thats why I posted it in the V8 section.....its a 302....block is from 1977 Mustang II Cobra. Tranny is from an 81 F150.

 

[Scrambler82]

If the solenoid is on the fender well, should be visible, make sure there is a good electrical connection between the solenoid mounting flange and the fender and that the mount hardware is tight. Take it off and clean up underneath of the mounting area, add tighten up the holes and add some electrical paste to the area before remounting.
Another thing, might sound like over kill but it is a good idea, run a 2 or at least a 4 gauge ground wire from the battery to one of the bolts on the starter mounting flange. This will make sure the starter has a good path for returning current and it will help the engine ground path also.
By running an additional loop from the starter bolt to the body of the vehicle this will increase the grounding system for the entire vehicle and should make your electrical components run better.

 

[baddad457]

Sounds more like your starter ring gear on the flexplate has a bad spot with worn down teeth to me. Remove the starter and using a breaker bar on the crankshaft front snout bolt, roll the crank completely around and inspect the ring gear teeth.

 

[madoublet863]

i had the same issue

i put a new flexplate new starter and it still did it come to find out the timing was off just enough to make the engine kick back on the starter so i adjusted it and shimed the starter and its working great

 

[constant_projecttruck]

Yeah I'm thinkin the starter is worn out. Just because of the misses and goes. Sunday it was starting fine all day. Like 8 starts and it never missed at all. I will try the solenoid and ground trick though.