Help: No Power turning key to start. 1974 Bronco

[2kuwl]

I am looking for a little guidance as to what may be the cause of this. I had just replaced my fuel pump and put in a new battery this morning and it started right up. After I turned it off and went to start it again later, all of the accessories come on when the key is turned to the run position, but everything goes dead when I turn it to start. I also put on a new positive battery cable and a new starter solonoid to see if the problem was with one of those, but that didn't fix it.

Anyone have any hints on what to check next?

thanks.

 

[1971BroncoSport]

You might check your body ground. Have had similar issue with a 74.

 

[ScanmanSteven]

Sounds like a bad ground. Check the battery cable to engine block connection.

 

[Viperwolf1]

Most accessories don't get power in the START position so more current is available to run the starter and ignition. Nothing unusual there.

Is there any clicking at the starter solenoid when the key is turned to START? If there is, you either have a poor connection where you can't get enough current to turn the starter or the starter may have a problem.

No clicking means the solenoid isn't getting 12V at the "S" terminal to turn it on. This can be a common problem with an auto transmission. The auto trans has a neutral safety switch which prevents any voltage getting to the solenoid unless in PARK or NEUTRAL. Sometimes the switches need adjustment, column isn't fully into position, or the NSS could be bad.

 

[2kuwl]

Thanks Viperwolf!!!! That was it exactly. It was in shifted into Park, but I put a little extra pressure on the shifter and it fired right up. I might have to make a slight adjustment to the NSS. It kind of threw me a little because I had just started it a few minutes before and just let it idle, then shut it off and then it wouldn't restart.

Thanks again.

 

[Viperwolf1]

My standard NSS adjustment procedure:
Loosen the 2 small bolts holding the NSS. Block wheels and place trans in neutral. Insert small pin (drill bit) in hole in side of NSS. Adjust NSS body back and forth until pin can be pushed into hole approximately 1/2". Tighten NSS bolts.

 

[TSmithA10]

Here it is in 2021 and my 1974 Bronco has the same issue. Good battery, suddenly will not crank, but gauges have power. The Ignition Solenoid is not clicking. Cleaned the battery cables and volt tested them. I checked and adjusted the NSS with no change. Bad battery ground? What else? Thanks

 

[Slowleak]

Could be a bad solenoid, bad ignition switch, or bad wire to the solenoid.

 

[75MIKE]

Jump across the solenoid and see what you find.

 

[DirtDonk]

Correct on all points. First thing to do is to jump from the battery positive side of the solenoid (starter relay) to the small "S" post next to it with the Red w/blue wire on it.
Be sure that the trans is in Park and the brake set. Remove the wire and touch a jumper to the small terminal.
If it cranks the starter then you know that the starting system and battery cables are still good and that you're not getting 12v to the relay when you turn the key.

If it does not click and the starter does not crank, you probably have a bad starter relay. But you can test that as well by jumping the battery directly to the starter side of the relay. If the starter still does not crank then you either have a bad starter, or a bad cable.
If it does crank, then your relay is bad.

If you have a volt-meter you can start by checking for 12v on the Red w/blue wire when the key is turned to START.

Paul