Ford 250/350 Diesel starter problems

[newbury]

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BTW you can often get away with banging on it for quite a while, so you can get by until you find yourself where you can work on it, but I wouldn't recommend pushing it more than absolutely necessary as you never know. During this time, it might just start without banging on it too. All depends on how it lands and if you get lucky. Keep a piece of cardboard and a 2x4 handy. And don't beat the tar out of it, just a few mild taps is all it takes.

Thanks, but what the heck does wacking it do? The few times I've done it I don't think it was enough to really jar it or cause it to move, I had read don't wail on it.

I bought a high torque starter from db electrical online for a little more than a hundred bucks spins over like a 6.0 liter now.

Thanks, coincidentally the first non-start was about 60 miles north of DB.

 

[HHR]

I bought a high torque starter from db electrical online for a little more than a hundred bucks spins over like a 6.0 liter now.

I have had great luck with DB Electrical. Probably purchased 25 or more starters and alternators from them. 90% of the time, they arrive the day after I order them.

 

[dstig1]

Thanks, but what the heck does wacking it do? The few times I've done it I don't think it was enough to really jar it or cause it to move, I had read don't wail on it.

Beats me. Probably knocks the solenoid loose from binding or sticking a bit. I know it works, as I have eventually run into it on 3 separate Fords, as they racked up the miles and years. Things wear out eventually, and this seems to be one that happens to Fords as they age.

 

[Wayne64SS]

If rapping it with a hammer gets it to start it's usually not the solenoid but a bad spot in the starter itself. I wouldn't buy any starter from a big box autoparts store, they're usually not worth the box they're put in. One of the few places a dealer part is worth the money (buy online at a discount) or find a local rebuilder, a good one's worth his weight in gold and will stand behind what he sells.

 

[dieselcrawler]

I've had reasonable luck with lifetime starters from Advance Auto Parts. I keep a spare on the shelf in the barn, after about 2 years they start getting slow, I swap it out when I'm doing the next oil change and after a trip to the parts store there's another new one in the box.

Changing them is reasonably easy, assuming getting under the truck is possible. I changed the one on our Excursion (stock, 4x4, no lift) and it was tight for 5' 7" 140 lb me. If it was 2wd, id need jacks/lift. You cant see the wires to disconnect them, and you better have them lose before you remove that heavy bugger. Dont drop it on your face, almost done that a few times. Top bolt can be hard to get to, extention and ling handle flex head ratchet is the key. Make sure you disconnect BOTH batteries FIRST.

Good luck... I love my 7.3's!