cougar70

I picked up my 69 coupe from the body shop, it fired right up, and i drove it across the street to the gas station to put gas in it. When I tried to start it up again, every time I turned the key there was a single click coming from the engine. I towed it home, replaced the starter, the solenoid, and the battery cables (plus the battery is new and charged). When I tried connecting the neg cable, the car tried to turn over, but a neighbor told me that sometimes the magnets inside the solenoid can get stuck together and cause that. I tapped the top of the solenoid a few times, then the car started right up. I drove it a few times the next couple days, but today when I tried to start it, it had the same problem as at the gas station- just clicked once when I turned the key. I replaced the solenoid again and the switch to starter cable, but got the same result as before. Has anyone excperienced this before and have any suggestions?

MustangFTW

some thing similar happened to me, for me it was the positive haveing a loose fitting at the end where the wire connects to battery it kept breaking the circuit randomly. i replaced the fitting and it started working.

Stangatic

I am having the same exact problem now too. I was thinking that it was the ignition switch, but when i turn the key, I hear the click coming from the solenoid. I am going to have the car on the lift this weekend and will let you know what I find out.

cougar70

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the help!

JMD

My old Lincoln had a similar issue, it would often only click when I hit the starter button, sometimes I would need to hit the button 20 times or more before the solenoid would kick the starter.

I ended up wiring a relay real close to the starter, the starter switch will kick the relay, and the relay will kick the solenoid with a very short run of wires from the battery cable, now it starts the first time every time.

It seems a little cumbersome, but it is not noticeable, and this was easier than trying to figure out why I was getting a weak signal from the starter switch.

Maybe not ideal, but it did solve my issue, and it is a driver....

Stangatic

mine ended up being a loose starter wire that would loosen itself when I drove the car. Solved the issue with a lock washer.