Starter issue

[snavesa]

Odd issue, seeking help

I had issues starting my '85 last week, battery appeared to be toast. Replaced battery, car started but starter would not disengage. At this time, I noticed the ignition cylinder would operate without the key. I figured time to replace ignition cylinder and switch, which led to replacing the wiring plug going into the ignition switch.

I rewired everything, connected the battery, starter immediately kicks in when connecting the battery. Replaced starter solenoid, everything appeared to be fine on test start. Buttoned everything back up, reinstalled gauge cluster, dropped hood. Turned key to on position, fuel pump primes, key in start position and no starter.

Pulled battery cables, verified all connections, reinstall battery cable and starter engages with no key.

Any thoughts? Everything was operating as expected prior to battery failure.

1985 GT, converted to EFI/Mass Air

[Walking-Tall]

New solenoid doesn't mean good solenoid, especially the horizontal-acting ones in these cars. I'd try disconnecting the battery negative, gently rapping on the solenoid with a wooden hammer handle to see if it's able to be jarred back to not-start mode, touch negative back onto negative battery post. If there's silence then under the hood, you may then be good to go. After that (if that works), I'd cycle the solenoid a bunch of times to get it used to operating, because I think it's the only thing that can smarten up a sticky one. If none of any of that pans out, you might need to try another solenoid. I would suggest to anyone to procure and install an old style vertical-acting Ford starter solenoid. They only have to counter or work with gravity, not side loading/sticking/etc...

Checking continuity of the key-to-solenoid wire while wiggling it too might show a questionable/opening wire...

[snavesa]

Two new solenoids, same behavior.

Install solenoid, no immediate starter engagement, start car, starter disengages.

Turn car off, turn key, no starter. Remove negative cable, replace negative cable and starter engages automatically.

Do I have really bad luck and got a bad batch of solenoids from Autozone?

[brianj]

When you say you replaced the ignition switch, you mean you replaced the key cylinder AND the electrical box as well, correct?

[snavesa]

I replaced the cyclinder, switch, and replaced the harness that plugs into the switch.

https://lmr.com/item/LRS-11582A/79-9...With-Key-Black
https://lmr.com/item/LRS-11572A/79-9...gnition-Switch
https://lmr.com/item/LRS-11572A-PG/I...-Mustang-79-93

Worst fear, wire melt-age somewhere in the dash/column.

running through schematics to see if there's something I might have missed.

[snavesa]

http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...wont-disengage

After seeing members having the same problem, just did a test. Pulled the pink/blue wire that connects to the top of the solenoid, connected battery cables and starter still engages. I'm going to get another solenoid from a different supplier. Autozone duralast solenoids are no good.

[Haystack]

Yeah, I had two new parts store solinoids fail on me within a month. Tractor supply has some that look and wire up identically which is where I would try to go now that I live in the boonies.

Walk through the scrap yard and find wrecked cars and pull the solenoid off those. Get two, one to install and one for storage. The oem ones from Ford were much better imho.

[snavesa]

Well, two faulty duralast solenoids from autozone fused on first use. Picked up the house brand from O'Reilly (BWD), installed with just positive from battery and ignition switch wire. Cycled 7-10 times, connected starter side of solenoid and was able to start multiple times without fusing/starter engagement after key release.

Problem appears to be resolved.

Thanks for sticking with me while I fixed the issue.

[Walking-Tall]

That's good news, glad to hear it