Starter Relay??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

thisolechevy · 06-25-2004, 05:01 PM

Before I get started I do understand that this is a Ford question, but hey its my dads car. We have a 1959 Mercury Monterey and until we started to "restore" it it ran!

We just took off the water pump and removed the radiator because neither worked. Just today I reassembeld the car and tried to start it, it clicked and then all power was lost. I know that the battery is good and all the connections are in good cond. The weird thing about it was all electrical worked until I tried to start it, then it was all gone. If I simply disconnected the battery and waited a little then reconnected it all electrical worked great

So is the starter relay bad??? or am I just missing something obvious

krue · 06-25-2004, 05:53 PM

First thing I would do is clean the battery post. Then try a battery you know is good or charge your battery, just to eliminate that.

flip66 · 06-25-2004, 06:19 PM

I would take the bat and have it checked I have seen them work fine and show 13v then as soon as you put a starter load on them they will die.

72moneypit · 06-25-2004, 06:49 PM

My first thought was the regulator. It's been 20+ years since I worked on a Ford, but I recall having to replace regulators a handful of times when I was originally suspecting a starter problem. They were cheap, too.

ChevLoRay · 06-25-2004, 08:40 PM

If you want to know if the solenoid is bad, you can jump around it. Bear in mind, tho, that you are going to see sparks fly.....but, that's how we checked 'em. Ready?

Take two screwdrivers. Touch the battery side of the solenoid with one of them. Touch the starter side with the other one. While both are touching a side of the solenoid, touch them together. Oh, it has to be the metal part of the screwdriver, not the plastic handles, that touch....just in case I muddied the water on that statement. Anyway, if the battery is hot, and the starter isn't locked up, it should turn the engine over when those two screwdriver shafts make contact. Like I said, sparks will fly (especially if the starter is locked up), so don't be careless and have some fuel in the path of the sparks.

Of course, you could just go buy a new solenoid and replace it and avoid the fireworks! You'd also save the wear and tear that trying to weld two screwdrivers together will cause.

I have had a little bit of experience with Ford and Mercury starters and solenoids.

06-25-2004, 05:01 PM	#1
thisolechevy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Gainesville, Fl Posts: 382	Starter Relay??? Before I get started I do understand that this is a Ford question, but hey its my dads car. We have a 1959 Mercury Monterey and until we started to "restore" it it ran! We just took off the water pump and removed the radiator because neither worked. Just today I reassembeld the car and tried to start it, it clicked and then all power was lost. I know that the battery is good and all the connections are in good cond. The weird thing about it was all electrical worked until I tried to start it, then it was all gone. If I simply disconnected the battery and waited a little then reconnected it all electrical worked great So is the starter relay bad??? or am I just missing something obvious __________________ Man I need another 67-72!!!

06-25-2004, 05:53 PM	#2
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,448	First thing I would do is clean the battery post. Then try a battery you know is good or charge your battery, just to eliminate that. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

06-25-2004, 06:49 PM	#4
72moneypit Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 125	My first thought was the regulator. It's been 20+ years since I worked on a Ford, but I recall having to replace regulators a handful of times when I was originally suspecting a starter problem. They were cheap, too. __________________ Paul 72 Cheyenne Super Custom Camper greenaz@hotmail.com

06-25-2004, 08:40 PM	#5
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	If you want to know if the solenoid is bad, you can jump around it. Bear in mind, tho, that you are going to see sparks fly.....but, that's how we checked 'em. Ready? Take two screwdrivers. Touch the battery side of the solenoid with one of them. Touch the starter side with the other one. While both are touching a side of the solenoid, touch them together. Oh, it has to be the metal part of the screwdriver, not the plastic handles, that touch....just in case I muddied the water on that statement. Anyway, if the battery is hot, and the starter isn't locked up, it should turn the engine over when those two screwdriver shafts make contact. Like I said, sparks will fly (especially if the starter is locked up), so don't be careless and have some fuel in the path of the sparks. Of course, you could just go buy a new solenoid and replace it and avoid the fireworks! You'd also save the wear and tear that trying to weld two screwdrivers together will cause. I have had a little bit of experience with Ford and Mercury starters and solenoids. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was. Last edited by ChevLoRay; 06-25-2004 at 08:42 PM. Reason: Clarification of statements previously made

06-25-2004, 06:19 PM	#3
flip66 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Garland TX Dallas area Posts: 658	I would take the bat and have it checked I have seen them work fine and show 13v then as soon as you put a starter load on them they will die.



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