no start: turn key, hear click, all power cuts out

[buckymarino]

94 f250 5.8

the truck has a brand new starter (the problem happened with the old starter too)

when i turn the key, i hear one single click and the power cuts out. i can't attempt a second start or turn on the lights or have any power going through the truck until i disconnect and reconnect the battery. then ill get back in and try again and it cuts out again. anyone ever run into this? i tried the search feature but anyone else with a similar problem was told to put a new starter in.

thanks a lot in advance

[way2old]

Sounds like you have a bad connection in the system. urning the key makes too much current go to the starter and the connection fails with the extra load.

[buckymarino]

would the next logical step be to test the relay? this truck has the fender mounted relay/solenoid. from what i see, tihat it is the next component in the chain.

[Idaho_Mechanic1984]

Quite a few times with this problem I cleaned the connections thoroughly at the battery and made sure it was tight and the problem never happened again.

People said to put a new starter - because sometimes an internal short in this would cause that - but I always make sure sure all the connections are clean, strong, and tight and that usually takes care of it.

If nothing still - you may look more into your ignition switch setup/wiring....

Dale

[FNA]

I don't know why you were advised to replace starter when the problem is systemic electrical failure.

Induce the condition, start at the battery and find where/when you no longer have power.

But I agree, clean up all connections first.

[LoseDevil]

Have you had the battery checked? I had a bad cell in a Dodge I own that caused kookie results much like what you are describing. The computer knew the battery was bad, but only responded with erratic starting and even idling once started.

[stinger196924]

It doesn't sound like it is the starter, it sounds like there is a problem with the bat. terminals or the connection to the wires in the terminals. if not check the connection to the solenoid. but i doubt that it is in the starter.

[Yardpilot]

I have two trucks that did something similar. On the 74 it turned out to be a bad ignition switch. It was coming apart inside. The truck was burning coils. On the 73 it was a bad starter relay. Sometimes it wouldn't start. Sometimes it wouldn't shut off. Sometimes the battery would drain off overnight. Both are fine now with simple replacements. No more burned coils, no more dead batteries.

Yardpilot

[Godofwarmike]

check your wiring harness for corrosion. my dad had an old truck around that same year that had some cracked wires. got corroded and would make it act just like that.

[ghalacsy]

i had a grand marquis that did the same thing until i replaced and tightened down the terminals on my cables. that fixed the problem for me.