Engine will not crank...

[LTDMan83]

I feel like an idiot asking this, but I'm out of ideas.

The engine in my Blue '87 will not crank correctly. When you turn the key forward to the On position, you can hear the relays under the dash clicking and the fuel pump cutting on, then turning it forward to the crank position you can hear the starter relay click, and then the starter trys to turn over the engine, but it is very weak and slow, and will only crank for about a second before stopping.

So far I have replaced:

Ignition Switch
Starter Relay
Positive & Negative battery cables
Battery

All have been tested and are good units.


I suck at tracking down electrical problems. HELP!

[mrltd]

1 more part.... The starter motor! HAve you pulled it and had it checked?

[Lincolnmania]

starter shit the bed mostlikely

[LTDMan83]

Still haven't checked the starter motor, as I had heard they pretty much never go out on these cars, and I also wasn't sure of what the symptoms of a bad starter would be. Still it is the last part that I know of in the cranking system, lol.

I guess I'll pull it out, take it to advance and have them test it.

I'll report back afterwards with the results.

[Brandon]

Yeah, I'm gonna have to get a starter for my car soon. It does fine when cold, but if you drive it to town and cut it off, and try and crank it up it'll turn over real slowly. But anyways it's probbably going to be the starter.

[85crownHPP]

no part never goes bad

[LTDMan83]

:lol:

[Dave84]

Put a gear reduction starter on. Those ones are fuckin awesome.

[DarkKnight]

Mine use to like to go out. Quit trying to crank it thats for sure. Dont want any bad teeth. And i would advise buying one from advance. Or even autozone just be sure to get one with a Life time warenty. I really recomend advances. as theres hasnt craped on me yet. vs autozones napas and orileys...

[Tiggie]

Thing always started fine for me! Mistake #1: Ignition Switch... you shoulda just kept the screwdriver setup I had in there! J/K

As I was reading, I was going to tell you the negative battery cable was crap, but it seems you fixed that.

And have you tried another battery? That little one I sent with it was in there when I got it, completely dead. It surprisingly charged up, but I wouldn't depend on it. (EDIT: I see you checked that too)

The starter seemed fine the entire time I had it, but I suppose it could have crapped out randomly... like the alternator did. You're sure you have a clean ground connection?

[LTDMan83]

Thing always started fine for me! Mistake #1: Ignition Switch... you shoulda just kept the screwdriver setup I had in there! J/K

After I got the car home, That ignition switch/screwdriver combo actually shocked the hell out of me while I was trying to start the car, and at the same time also screwed up something to were the Interior lights and Illuminated entry are always on now. Still haven't figured out that one yet, lol.

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You guys were right, It was indeed the starter itself. The old one tested bad at advance, so today I just swapped in the good re-man Motorcraft unit from my parts car. Sure made it easy to change the starter, being this car has no air tubes going to the cats, to get in the way.

She now cranks no problem, only now the engine will not start. A quick check of the schrader valve on the fuel rail revealed that it has no fuel pressure. I'm thinking the fuel filter is probibly now plugged, and I will investigate that next.

No fancy gear reduction starters until I build a Exploder motor for it, sometime in the near future.

[86VickyLX]

She now cranks no problem, only now the engine will not start. A quick check of the schrader valve on the fuel rail revealed that it has no fuel pressure. I'm thinking the fuel filter is probibly now plugged, and I will investigate that next.

Do you hear the pump try to prime the system?
If not it might be the relay shit the bed.

[gadget73]

The cable from the starter relay to the starter could also be a problem. If its corroded internally, the starter won't get much power. If that starter is original, I wouldn't be half surprised if its just had enough. When mine started to go, it would just randomly do nothing at all. I got another week out of it by beating it with a hammer, but I replaced it on payday because I didn't trust it.

[Tiggie]

Ouch, sorry to hear about that shock. I think these cars hate the people that save them. That fuel pump relay gave me problems. It didn't work when I got the car and I stuck a junkyard one in there. You might wanna tap on that a little and see what happens.

[LTDMan83]

Do you hear the pump try to prime the system?
If not it might be the relay shit the bed.

Yes, the fuel pump sounds off like it should. I don't think I've ever started an EFI Ford without listening for that sound first, before cranking.

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I got off early from work today, so I went out and Installed a New Fuel Filter, and got her ready to fire up. Only now she won't crank anymore, and is doing the same thing as before. At least I didn't buy another starter.

Only one thing left now, and thats the black cable going from the Relay to the Starter. This is the last thing, after this, I have literally replaced everything in the cranking system. I'm off now to swap the good working cable from my parts car. Really getting frustrating at this point...