Start/won't start issue

bonestock87 · Nov 17, 2008

Hi guys. This '93 I just got will start like a champ most of the time, but sometimes it just gives a single loud click when I hit the starter. I noticed that it always starts fine after it has been running recently, and the only time it won't start is when it has been sitting several hours. What is that click? It doesn't sound like it's coming from all the way down at the starter. Any help?

Red_LX · Nov 19, 2008

If I had to guess, the "click" is coming from your starter relay on the inside fenderwell (driver's side)

Does it not crank or start at all when it clicks, or does it do that a couple times and then crank?

bonestock87 · Nov 19, 2008

Does it not crank or start at all when it clicks, or does it do that a couple times and then crank?

Correct, it will not crank/start when it is doing the clicking routine. And like I say, it doesn't seem to have this problem if I go to start it shortly after it has been driven for a while. It's only when I try starting it for the first time each day.

If I had to guess, the "click" is coming from your starter relay on the inside fenderwell (driver's side)

You are dead nuts on! So you think replacing the starter relay could solve my issue? Thanks for the help!!

Edit: Hope this IS the problem, $10.99 at Advance Auto Parts.

Red_LX · Nov 19, 2008

You could try replacing that, but first I've got another Q...

You say it does that when you first go to start it in the morning. If that's the case...well, how DO you get it started?

Could be a chance you have a weak battery, and it holds enough of a charge that it's fine while you're driving around, but gets low overnight.

bonestock87 · Nov 20, 2008

You say it does that when you first go to start it in the morning. If that's the case...well, how DO you get it started?

I'm not driving it yet, but when I go to start it to move it so I can clean on it and such, it SOMETIMES won't start. It's after trying it 5-10 times that it finally decides to crank and start. As fate goes, yesterday I left work early to go clean on her some and it started right up the first turn.

Could be a chance you have a weak battery, and it holds enough of a charge that it's fine while you're driving around, but gets low overnight

First thing I did was to buy a brand new battery for it. Previous owner had some monster of a battery in there that didn't allow the hood to shut properly.

Red_LX · Nov 20, 2008

Ya know, something I just thought of that it just might be...your ignition switch/cylinder may be going out (the part you put your key in)

I've heard those are sometimes a problem on Fox cars. Mine is starting to go on the fritz in my Thunderbird, sometimes when I turn the key it doesn't do anything at all (I don't even know if it clicks).

But, I'd say try replacing that relay and see if that gets you anywhere.

bonestock87 · Nov 20, 2008

What makes me "fairly" sure that it's not the ignition cylinder is that no matter if the car starts or not, I at least get the clicking noise at the relay/solenoid with each attempt.

BTW, I got lectured by the Advance guy because I told him that I was looking for a starter relay. After 20 minutes of looking he found that they call it a solenoid. On their website the part name is "Niehoff Ignition Relay".

Red_LX - I just PM'd you.

Red_LX · Nov 20, 2008

bonestock87 said:
BTW, I got lectured by the Advance guy because I told him that I was looking for a starter relay. After 20 minutes of looking he found that they call it a solenoid. On their website the part name is "Niehoff Ignition Relay".

Dude- I had some jackass at Advance give me the exact same "lecture" last spring when I got a new relay for my truck. When I was hunting on their website, they had one listed under "starter solenoid" (it was a relay) and 6 or 7 listed under "starter relay."

It's a damn RELAY. The solenoid is ON the starter.

I think people have misconceived notions because it's also called a "solenoid switch" or "solenoid relay."

stykthyn · Nov 21, 2008

I had this prob last year. the strap from the solenoid to the starter had come loose and 9 times out of 10 there was enough contact to spin the starter. the 10th time....well you know the drill.

bonestock87 · Nov 21, 2008

the strap from the solenoid to the starter had come loose and 9 times out of 10 there was enough contact to spin the starter

Interesting, I will check that out before laying $14.99 on the counter at Advance. (Yeah, website says $10.99, in store price is $14.99, this has become a trend at Advance in the last few months.)

blue71mustang · Nov 22, 2008

I just tell them "I need the FAMOUS ford starter relay on the fender." I've been driving fords for 14yrs and I think Ive replaced the relay on every one of the 10 fords I owned. If they sales guy doesn't know what your talking about after you tell them that, find another sales guy or another part store.
I also have another suggestion, although I didn't experience any clicking noises, I just had an issue with my 2000 Excursion. I thought it was the starter relay. Truck wouldn't start but I could jump the terminals underhood and it would start every time. I thought it was the FAMOUS relay so I replaced it. Turns out it was a steering column issue. If I tried to start in park, it was 50/50 on it starting. If I placed it in nuetral, it started every time. If you haven't fixed it already, next time it does it, slip it into nuetral and see if you just get the same click or if it starts.

Red_LX · Dec 2, 2008

bonestock87 said:
Interesting, I will check that out before laying $14.99 on the counter at Advance. (Yeah, website says $10.99, in store price is $14.99, this has become a trend at Advance in the last few months.)

That's the annoying thing about advance auto- anything on the website that doesn't stay it's "in store" means it's a parts america part and they can't order it at advance.

So here's my question, if the companies are linked to the point that they share a website, why the **** can't advance get the parts shown on the website sent to their store?

BTW, interesting story kinda related to this- Last summer I took off for a ride on my bike, made it about 2 miles and it totally and completely died. Wasn't getting any power from the battery or anything. I messed with it for a week before I finally found the culprit...it uses the old glass fuses, and the main fuse had a hole melted through one endcap....so, although it looked fine, it wasn't making a connection. Sheesh.

fouredmustang · Dec 2, 2008

I laughed so hard after reading this thread, because I had a Ford 150 truck that had the same issues and got the same response at the parts store.

Start/won't start issue

bonestock87

Red_LX

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Start/won't start issue

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