Firewall solenoid freezes in extreme cold...

[Karmana]

Anyone know why Ford's standard firewall solenoid tends to freeze up when the outside air temperature is in single digits? My '92 Explorer does it, '95 Windstar does it, '88 Chevy K1500 starts like a champ... every time.

It only happens when temperatures have gone down to single digits at night... repeated attempts to jump the starter poles with a screw driver DO get it to start, sometimes after about 5 minutes of doing it repeatedly.

Otherwise, there is just a single "click"... do it enough times, and that single click becomes ... the normal startup sounds.

[butch h]

I have never had that problem,at least not associated with temperature to the exclusion of poor connections/components.That being said,I would probably try a hair dryer,or heat gun if inspection of connections/components showed no faults.

[463]

there is moisture getting in the solenoids/wires. you will have to dry it out and seal up to get to run right. '88 Chevy K1500" thats what i would be driving.

[Karmana]

Thanks guys - I'll try that here soon. It is not a problem at the moment, just because the overall temperature isn't dropping that low now. It IS the same solenoid on both vehicles.