New Starter and relay, won't start

[Vincen]

My starter was acting a little sluggish so I planned to replace it and the starter relay. I also performed an oil change, new plugs/wires and replaced the vacuum hose to the trans vacuum modulator. Once everything was buttoned up, the truck will not start. I can hear the starter relay click but the starter won't engage. I plan to replace the ground and check my connections to the starter tomorrow. Anyone else have more suggestions?

 

[Fairlane514]

Charge on the battery

 

[Vincen]

Battery reflects 12.65 with no load

 

[broncnaz]

May need to have it load tested. especailly if it doesnt start after cleaning the grounds.

 

[BwoncoHowie]

When I was having starter problems it was caused by $hitty grounds.
I had a rusty sheet metal screw for a body ground and the engine ground was connected there also. I ended up putting 3 heavy grounds connecting to a moisture sealed stud on the fender well. I used 2GA cable, 1) from engine block to stud. 2) from (-neg) batt to stud. 3) from frame to stud. Cleaned rust, undercoating, paint etc. from all connecting points and sealed them with either grease or RTV. been going on 15yrs without a single starter problem.

I have also had bad suposedly rebuilt %) starters right out of the box from the parts store. When you get a starter that works super good (you know the kind im talking about, they are the ones that have a nice quiet flywheel mesh, along with a strong-fast crank, and take about 5 seconds to coast to a stop when you let go of the key and the engine starts) you dont want to turn it in as a core when it wears out, thats why I take it to a local starter/alternator rebuilder and let them put new life back into it.

 

[DirtDonk]

Is this with the old starter and relay, or new? It's not unheard of for the new stuff to be defective right out of the box.

But old batteries hate cold weather too, and usually decide to die at the worst (and colder) times.
Unless you're in AZ, in which case they die at the worst (and hottest) times!

Paul

 

[Vincen]

I had installed an AAW complete grounding kit when I re wired. The starter and relay are both new (Advance Auto). I am pretty confident in my grounds to the body, but no so much in the ground from battery to block. If I clean and/or replace the ground what next? This is my 3rd Bronco and have never encountered this.

 

[Justafordguy]

If the grounds check out you need to have your battery load tested and also have them test the new starter.

 

[71broncman]

Pull the starter and take it back to the store so they can test it there. If it tests bad they can replace it. If it's good you may have to adjust it while installing it to make sure it's not binding on something.
Mark

 

[JSBX]

New starter relays now days are getting to be notorious for being bad right out of the box. Try jumping the relay to see if the starter will turn over.

 

[blubuckaroo]

You can test both the starter and battery without removing them from the car. Jump it from another car to the battery first. If it starts, you have a low/bad battery. If that doesn't work, jump the positive cable to the starter side of the solenoid (out of gear!). If that works, you have a bad solenoid. If that doesn't work, you can connect the cables right to the starter. If that works, you have a bad cable or ground.
When you get it to crank over, and with the battery fully charged, check the voltage while cranking. If it's below 12 volts, you have a bad battery.

 

[golfobx]

I literally just installed a new tranny and a new starter at same time. Extremely sluggish to start. Ripped starter back out and took back to auto parts store and it was defective. So I'd vote go that route before tearing into everything else. Might be a simple fix.

 

[Vincen]

Will be installing new grounds on Friday morning. Hoping for the best. Merry Christmas and thanks for everyone's feedback.

 

[DirtDonk]

Don't forget to do the tests that buckaroo described first. Not that having new, clean and tight ground cables isn't a great idea. Just that doing the tests will narrow down the issue better.

If re-doing the grounds does not help, then you're back to doing the tests anyway.

Paul

 

[Vincen]

I appreciate everyone's feedback. I performed all,of the recommended tests to find out the "new" starter was fried. Went to Summit and purchased a Powermaster starter. After a few bone headed moves, it started right up.

 

[Dougs Beast]

Bad starter

I just went thru this myself! Changed the relay with an NOS and a rebuilt starter from parts store and no crank, just click. Pulled the starter and had it bench tested and it was bad from out of the box! Before heading home they bench tested another in front of me and after the install, fired right up! You wonder whose rebuilding these things and putting them on the shelves for retail?

 

[DirtDonk]

What brand starters you guys using? Just wondering if there is a pattern, or if it's just random crappiness.

Paul