Power but no cranking

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Power but no cranking

sgauvry
Gents -

Having a problem with my 1985.5 F150 5.0 EFI. I am unable to crank the engine.

Battery presently has about a 13.7 amps. Possibly, more amps are required to crank the engine?  

There's a new starter solenoid, and connections are correct (positive battery cable and 4 wires to the "M" stud, starter wire to the "B" stud, red wire to the "S" stud).  

I can hear the high pressure fuel pump briefly engage as I turn the key.

Relay switches worked fine with the old engine and harness.  I know that doesn't necessarily indicate they are working correctly, but I am assuming they are.

Fuel gauge, emissions light, and battery charge light work.  

The wire harness is good and I have it connected correctly.  The only exceptions I can think of may be the alternator connections (will double check those to ensure they are correct) and the pigtail terminal from the battery that connects to a connector that runs to the EEC and grounds the entire system. I have some work to do on that to make it a great ground.  

I'm not wanting to actually start the engine at this point.  Although it's been primed with oil using a dummy distributor rod, but I want to crank it a bit to make sure oil is circulated very well and that any trapped air can escape. Can't get it to crank.

I know I'll have to do some diagnostics, but not sure where to begin. As always, I appreciate the sound advice I get here!

Steve

Steven A. Gauvry - 1985 F150 5.0 EFI
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Re: Power but no cranking

Gary Lewis
Administrator
You should be able to force it to crank by connecting a small jumper from the hot terminal on the starter solenoid/relay to the small terminal that should have a red/light blue wire on it.  Remove the r/lb wire and jumper to that terminal and the engine should crank - but don't be standing in front of the truck!
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Power but no cranking

sgauvry
Yes!  Following your suggestion, it cranked.  

What next?
Steven A. Gauvry - 1985 F150 5.0 EFI
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Re: Power but no cranking

Gary Lewis
Administrator
Good!  But, are you asking me what the next problem will be?  Or, how to troubleshoot the problem?
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Power but no cranking

sgauvry
How to troubleshoot.  
Steven A. Gauvry - 1985 F150 5.0 EFI
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Re: Power but no cranking

85lebaront2
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In reply to this post by sgauvry
Steve, I seem to recall that is an AOD, is the back up lamp/neutral safety wiring plugged in, it may have two connections, one on the transmission and one possibly near the transmission crossmember to frame bolts on the driver's side.
Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

"Getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional" Darth Vader 1986 F350 460 converted to MAF/SEFI, E4OD 12X3 1/2 rear brakes, traction loc 3:55 gear, 160 amp 3G alternator Wife's 2011 Flex Limited Daily Driver 2009 Flex Limited with factory tow package Project car 1986 Chrysler LeBaron convertible 2.2L Turbo II, modified A413

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Re: Power but no cranking

sgauvry
Everything is connected.  Doesn't AOD refer to the tranny?  In that case mines a C6.  
Steven A. Gauvry - 1985 F150 5.0 EFI
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Re: Power but no cranking

sgauvry
In reply to this post by sgauvry
I suppose it's time to do a voltage drop test.
Steven A. Gauvry - 1985 F150 5.0 EFI
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Re: Power but no cranking

Gary Lewis
Administrator
In reply to this post by sgauvry
Yes, AOD is the tranny.  But C6 will have the same connections.

You need to use pages 29 and 30 here (1986 EVTM/Start) and use your volt meter to find the problem.  The R/LB wire comes from the ignition switch on Page 29 and goes to Page 30 via the blue M triangle.  Then it goes through the neutral safety switch and back to Page 29 via M.

However, if you don't have the truck in neutral or Park it won't crank.
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Power but no cranking

Gary Lewis
Administrator
In reply to this post by sgauvry
No, not yet.  That's to find bad connections.  You probably have a disconnection or maybe you don't the tranny truly in Park or Neutral.
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Power but no cranking

sgauvry
In reply to this post by 85lebaront2
Bill - I'll look for those connections.  They don't sound familiar.  
Steven A. Gauvry - 1985 F150 5.0 EFI
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Re: Power but no cranking

sgauvry
In reply to this post by Gary Lewis
I looked for connections.  I found the following as shown in the two photos:





There is also a connection that comes from those shown in the photos and runs along the frame parallel with the gear shift mechanism on the tranny, and is connected to a wire that runs to the gear shift mechanism.  


All are connected.  The vehicle is in park.  I shifted around between gears from park to lower 1 gear and back.  Still no cranking.  
Steven A. Gauvry - 1985 F150 5.0 EFI
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Re: Power but no cranking

Gary Lewis
Administrator
Did you have the key in Start while you shifted between gears?  (Be very careful there.)  If so, then even if the registration is off between the shift lever and the transmission itself you should have at least passed through Neutral and it should have cranked.

Now you need to do that testing I was talking about.  I'd start with the R/LB wire at the transmission.  Disconnect the wiring from the transmission and put the red wire of your meter to one of the pins and the black wire on a good ground.  Put the meter on the 20 volt scale and turn the key to Start.  You should see 12v, but if not you may have gotten the wrong pin, so use the other pin in that connector and you should see power.

If you don't see power/12v on either pin when in Start then the problem is between there and the ignition switch.  If you do see power/12v on a pin then the problem may be downstream from there.  But it may also be in the transmission switch.  So jumper between the two pins and see if it will crank - but watch what gear you are in as there's now no neutral safety switch.
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Power but no cranking

sgauvry
Will do, Gary.  Unfortunately, we're getting snow today and tomorrow and it's getting too wet and cold to do that now.  But I will do what you suggest as soon as it's a little drier and warmer, hopefully in a few days.

Thanks!!

Steve
Steven A. Gauvry - 1985 F150 5.0 EFI
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Re: Power but no cranking

Gary Lewis
Administrator
Hope you don't get too much snow.  We need the moisture, but it seems to be going well north of us and it'll be 56F this afternoon with a bit of sun.  So I hope to get my winch wiring done.

Anyway, take care.  And don't worry, I'm sure it is a simple problem.  You just have to track it down.
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Power but no cranking

sgauvry
Thanks for the good wishes.  I'm sure it'll get worked out.

What I'd give for 56F today...

Steve

Steven A. Gauvry - 1985 F150 5.0 EFI
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Re: Power but no cranking

sgauvry
In reply to this post by Gary Lewis
One other question regarding the no crank issue.

I modified the harness slightly by extending the wires to the TFI module connector so as to reach the module which I have mounted remotely in a heat sink.  Although I took great care in soldering connections and ensuring I reconnected the correct wires correctly, it is possible I did not.  If wires were connected incorrectly, or came disconnected, that could cause my no cranking issues, couldn't it?
Steven A. Gauvry - 1985 F150 5.0 EFI
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Re: Power but no cranking

Gary Lewis
Administrator
Yes, it is possible.  On Page 29 you can see that the R/LB wire goes to the TFI module.  So if it were connected to a ground or some huge load that the ignition switch can't support then that could cause it.
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Power but no cranking

sgauvry
Thanks!  I saw the link to the TFI module in my trouble shooting manual on the pages your recommended.  I'll check those connections as well once the weather breaks.  
Steven A. Gauvry - 1985 F150 5.0 EFI
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Re: Power but no cranking

sgauvry
In reply to this post by Gary Lewis
Hi Gary -

So we have about 10 inches of very wet snow on the ground.  If it had been colder, we'd have had much more than that since it snowed continuously for about 36 hours.  

Anyway, I'm mostly dug out and I tested the plug nearest the transmission (located along the rail).  There is exactly 12v coming from it.  So that tells me all connections (at least to this point) are good. However, I did not remove the wires from the tranny to test them and I had forgotten about jumping the two pins to see if it cranks.  

When I disconnect the wires from the tranny, are there only two pins?  If there are more, what two pins are you referring to?

Steve
Steven A. Gauvry - 1985 F150 5.0 EFI
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