coil or relay?

[19674x4]

i charged up my battery put the black cable on first then the ground, it sparked when it touched the post, then got in cab, turned key-nothing, the starter didn't even turn, no clicking, nothing, checked connections on coil.

[heep70]

Solinoid. Try jumping it.

[rjewkes]

red should be the battery to alternator/accessories./selenoid and ground should be black going to frame or block.

[bluef250]

Generally, with a bad coil truck will turn over but not started. With bad relay (starter solenoid), the relay will make some humming sound. Have you been having any problems starting truck? Did jumping get it started? Clean and check ground "-" side. Clean and check "+" side. Check battery - 12.8 volts. If nothing then try this. Make sure truck is in park or neutral with e brake on, try jumping battery side solenoid to "I" (small wire closest to battery side on solenoid) momentarily. If it turns over, might be switch or neutral safety switch. If not use wiring diagrams and trace power starting with the ground to the "+" battery side. Clean and verify each connection.

[FORDification]

As rjewkes mentioned, there should be a red cable going from the positive post on the battery to the starter solenoid, and a black cable going from the negative post on the battery to an engine ground.

....and the ground is the last cable you connect, not the first. Always connect the power cable first, then attach the ground.

I'm assuming that your battery connections are correct even though you've got your cable colors reversed, since hooking the postive post to an engine ground would have resulted in some fireworks....or at least a lot of smoke until something melted away. However, it would be highly advisable to get the cables correctly oriented, because many people don't pay that close attention to the specific post a cable is connected, and would connect their jumper cables to the post which at first glance appears correct....but since the cables are reversed, you could cause some damage with their vehicle as well.

[Big D's 69]

I had that happen to my truck. I put a new battery in it and one morning went to crank it and nothing. I jumped it off but come to find out that the cables was just corroded. I tried cleaning them but still wouldn't work all the time. I installed new cables and works like a champ.

[fordman]

i have the wrong color cables on my battery. but they are hooked up properly.

[rjewkes]

also as was stated by Bluef250 could be neutral safety switch or the ign. switch. IIRC There is also a fuse under the dash that runs something under the hood. I may be wrong though.

With the nuetral safety switch it could just be the deal on the clumn not push it over far enough or too far iether way it won't make contact and therefore won't allow you to start it. Play with it a little or doe the suggested method of jumping/ testing that circuit.

[fordman]

i would recheck your battery connections from the battery through the solinid and down to the starter. if you can cross the soliniod and it cranks then i would look at the ignition switch.

[19674x4]

new info, i did put the wires on the right posts, just forgot to put ground on first, i have started the truck in neutral with no clutch before, when i turn the key to accessory, i have no lights or fan or any electrical accessories.

[fordman]

sounds like the switch. can you jump the solinoid and start it?

[19674x4]

i'll try sometime, could the battery just be shot? gotta go hunting tomorow

[fordman]

maybe but if the battery sparked then it had something in it. turn on something that isn't linked with the key.

[19674x4]

which would be?

[FORDification]

Sounds to me like you're just jumping around all over the place without a logical plan of attack.

First of all, charge the battery and make sure it's got a full charge. Then hook up the battery cables correctly, red to positive and black to ground. Hop in the cab and turn the key to the On position...do the idiot lights come one? If so, then turn the key to the Start position. What happens? Do the idiot lights go off in the Start position and come back on when the key is released back to the Run position, without the engine turning over? If so, it's your neutral safety switch and needs adjustment. If you hear a clicking, then either the battery clamps are loose or corroded or the starter solenoid is bad. Try jumping the solenoid and see if the starter tries to spin the engine. If not, you have a bad starter or starter cable.