I have a 93 F -150 Vehichile its a good truck but has a weird problem. When I start it and run it somewhere and shut it off, it acts like the battery is low and just groans and barely starts. Let it sit and would fire up. The starter would start spinning slow and then pick up speed.

This fall I put a new starter on it and was hoping it was just a gummed up starter. I put it on and tried it and it just groaned..rrrr rrrrr rrrr I backed off the key and tried it again , same thing, then tried it once more and it spun right off real fast, I thought great, but that was strange, so shut it off and tried it again and it ripped right off, so I thought it was fixed and put it away for the winter, but one warmish day in December I tried to start it and it would groan as before. I tried jumping the solenoid, same thing.

I let sit all winter until now, its warmed up to about 45 degrees in the afternoon here. I charged the battery (10 years old but showing 12.7 V) and charges up to 100% (the charger says), I dont have a multimeter. I changed the battery connectors, cleaned the post, and cleaned the solenoid connections, I have lights but now wont even groan at all. I just hear the pump run.

I dont think its the battery it starts my 40 hrs boat moter but of course thats smaller than a 5.8 L

Any ideas before I have to spend $400 to get a new battery out here ? Solenoid ? Do a need another starter ? key switch assembly ?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I would just bring to shop, don't want to risk making the problem bigger... I was trying to fix a tear drop bow today because string was off, ended up busting because didn't want to bring to shop. Let's just say i regret that

I wish, I am in the bush. No shops here. cost me 3 grand to barge it in.

Without a multimeter it gets a little tricky, but if you have a test light put it right to the top of the battery and try to start it the light should barely dim with just the starter draw if it gets really dim or goes out it’s a pretty good chance it’s the battery, if it stays bright but doesn’t crank make sure you have power through the solenoid, if you do then I’d say it’s probably a bad wire then not carrying the amperage.

Thanks Bob. I will try that. Perhaps turn on the lights and try crank in the dark and see if it dims too.

Take the ground wire off at the frame and clean it up real good.

The one from the selonoind ? I did tighten that one.

It will give you an idea, the only thing with right at the battery you isolate the battery from cable issues, and cotton had a good point I forgot, bad grounds are the worst.

Thanks guys I will clean the ground from the - battery to the frame is there another I am missing

Here’s some pictures to help locate the grounds it’s from the ford truck enthusiast forum.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1571378-ground-points.html

Wow great thanks!

clean up all your electrical connections take them apart and wire brush , clear any corrosion

I had had the screws out of one when I was moving some stuff out of my way to change the coil on the #4 cylinder and it would not even turn over without putting the grounding screws back in

this was a 2000 but very similar solenoid on the firewall

once it is clean and if it starts nice then spray paint over them to help keep them from getting corroded again

This ^^^^^^^^^

X 2 on clean the grounds.

Not only the grounds, but also check any additional small wires attached to the hot side. I recently had my truck not turn over at all, and it was due to a small wire (that I have no idea what it even is), attached to the positive battery terminal that was loose.

Maybe, charge the battery.
Doug Lee
*

Grounds and new battery

Sons trucks has a similar problem.
Cleaned all grounds, cables, posts, etc.
Problem persisted.
He tried new battery, same issue.

Sometimes wouldn't Crank fast enough to.fire.
Use a jump.pack, and it'd start right up.

Turned out to be a bad - cable from battery.
No cracks or breaks in insulation, both ends looked great, fairly heavy gauge but corroded BAD inside.

Had a Dodge with persistent elec problems.
Added a bunch of additional grounds.
Problems lessened considerably.
But still a Dodge, lol

this winter I couldn't get my 1500gmc to turn over , it was cold -17 jump packs , cables from a co-workers truck while it was running bring the battery in fully charge it
I had bad ends on my cables the plastic had bulged with the years and even on a new battery it wasn't enough to get more than a click
all the lights came on the , radio everything and bright

I jus couldn't get the current needed

I ended up waiting for it to warm up to 11 above 5 days later then in the day light checking out the side terminal cables cleaned them up and cut a bunch of the plastic out of the way to get a better connection
then it fired right up

if a jump pack or jumper cables from another running vehicle and voltage meter showing 14-15 volts then you have voltage and not current.


and Dave spot on about it is still a dodge , why they work so hard at making you never want to own one again.
I have had 2 , I was a slow learner apparently.

I’m not sure I understand the description of the problem. But if the truck starts up, is shut off, and the motor is difficult to turn over when it is warm…that seems like the ignition timing is advanced too far.