starts then it doesn't start

[kenwheeler]

I got an '87 2.9L 4x4 ext cab recently. The guy I got it from said it was sitting for awhile and he didn't need it. He said he had to jump it to move it. And we had to jump it again before I could pick it up. It drove fine to my house. It started fine all day as I was showing it to people and driving it around the yard. The next day it started fine (curiously started it). The battery terminals were really corroded and a small ground wire was broken off. I cleaned up the battery compartment, replaced the ground wire, and cleaned the terminals. The next day it started fine when I put it into the garage. Later that day it wouldn't start. The lights worked but the solenoid just clicked and it wouldn't turn over. When I put the charger on it, it started right up.

 

[IMenriched]

I got an '87 2.9L 4x4 ext cab recently. The guy I got it from said it was sitting for awhile and he didn't need it. He said he had to jump it to move it. And we had to jump it again before I could pick it up. It drove fine to my house. It started fine all day as I was showing it to people and driving it around the yard. The next day it started fine (curiously started it). The battery terminals were really corroded and a small ground wire was broken off. I cleaned up the battery compartment, replaced the ground wire, and cleaned the terminals. The next day it started fine when I put it into the garage. Later that day it wouldn't start. The lights worked but the solenoid just clicked and it wouldn't turn over. When I put the charger on it, it started right up.

leave it outside...you spoiled it

seriously....you prolly have a bad battery cable, both + or -... and or battery.
check the connection at the starter too

check over the ground wires and grounds too.

 

[Spowerback]

ground wire them I have the same problem,,tcheak ground too

 

[dawson111299]

sounds like a starter issue to me Ive seen starters go bad slowly over time from oil build up or termainal corrosion. Id check the cable to the starter teminal could be loose next id just ger a new starter or one from the junk yard. sometimes they get a bad spot and just like a roulette table will land on that spot a little xtra amps from a charger or a nice whack with a mallet usually gets em going but it wont be long till it wont work at all hope this helps you . Another thing to think about is how the starter is grounded I beleive it uses the engine for a ground may want to remove it and clean up the mateing surfaces.