I'm having a pesky problem that is getting worse. Sometimes when I turn the ignition key it fires right up - other times It may take several turns of the key before the starter will engage. This morning howver it almost left me stranded and it took 20 minutes and probably 100 attempts before it turned over. When it is failing - all of the accessories come on just fine. There is no clicking. My suspcisions are a bad ignition switch, bad clutch switch, bad starter relay. Battery and starter are fine, Any suggestions before I start throwing in a bunch of new parts?

 

Clean your cables, even the one at the starter. You'll have enough contact to run the accessories and lights, but a little corrosion will prevent the correct amout of juice from reaching the starter. A sure sign is a warm cable after several attemps and the starter not engaging.

 

Solo_one, good point always check and clean the battery cable with a no start problem, also check the ground cable at the end that goes to the engine and chassis.
If you don't hear a clicking sound you are not getting power to the starter solenoid. It could be the starter switch, but it can also be just an adjustment to it. Also if its an auto, it could be the nuetral safety switch or if standard the cluth safety switch. Find a wireing diagram and the wire at the solenoid and check for power with a test light then T/S to the switch. If you hear a click sound then its a bad starter solenoid or starter motor (maybe both). Good luck

 

Well - problem solved - it turned out to be a loctronics alarm component that the local dealers were installing on all of the new Fords sold around here - then they would try an sell you the alarm aftermarket - and if you declined they just left it in but not activated. Ignorant me thought becuase it wasn't activated it was out of the loop - not so. That part was a cheap fix - $75 to remove- but all of the quick flipping of the ignition switch also caused the starter to start to grind so had to replace that too.

 

Forgot about car alarms, THANKS

 

i got an 84 ford ranger with a 2.8 4x4 and the starter keeps grinding the gear away .gone threw like four starters already.fly wheele is good. got any tips on how to fix it?