94 Ford F-150 -- won't start, single click noise upon key turn?

Question

Basically new battery, cable terminals at the battery are not corroded but were brushed shiny less than a year ago. The battery cable connection to the immediately adjacent wall (could the solenoid be seperate from the starter, right here?) appeared corroded, but have loosened them and filed all the surfaces clean. It's not here. Also tried wacking the thing in case the solenoid was stuck; no luck.

For maybe a year, the truck would do this, but it always was--- with a little patience and repeated trys, it would start. Once the truck was up and running for the day, it seemed to me the problem then was far less likely to occur.

The symptoms appear to be exactly like the issue of solenoid stickiness in Chevy van starters, as I went through that with two vans. But my wacking of this starter, also the little black box earlier described on the truck wall... neither of these seemed to effect a fix, after repeatedly doing the experiment of wacking them over months.

The majority of my life experience is with Chevy vans; I have no clue what commonly goes with these Fords. Might somebody out there have an educated guess with this basic model?

I addressed the starter connections, by trying to loosen the corroded nuts, but might have ruined the top most stud, as it's moving and I don't see why it should be--unless it's threaded and not a fixed stud. Then I thought to remove the starter to more easily access the connections, but one starter bolt broke (fun), YET< the starter is so corroded in place, that... if this is not the problem, I'm going to place the one bolt back in place, and put a self tapper or similar through the plate near the broken bolt and I think she'll hold.

Any guidance would be most appreciated. I want to try and salvage the starter, but want to hear what anyone thinks on how to address these issues.

Thx

Answer 1

have the starter checked. turn the key on jump the solenoid switch use a screw driver touch the small post with the little wire and the big cable on the switch going to the starter if it starts ok then it the key switch. if it clicks it could be the starter

Answer 2

I have a 93 Mercury that has ignition switch, shall I say, issues. I bought the car new and have replaced that switch a couple of times. The Mercury dealer claimed they used the wrong lubrication when the switch was built. I don't know if yours is the same or not but it might be. Good Hunting!

Answer 3

the CLICK is certainly a battery or starter problem. i dont think it has a seperate solenoid...bad battery...bad starter...bad connections...the clicking you here could be coming from the starter relay but that usually means it working.trust me on this its not as bad as you think

Answer 4

Remove your starter and have it tested