Starter relay problem??? Need some help!

[alfie]

About a month ago tried to start up the trusty 88 Bronco II and nothing, looked like the battery was dead, no headlights no dome light etc.. got it started by popping the clutch on a roll, so got home and started trouble shooting. Disconnected both wires off the battery and was able to get the headlight and dome lights to work again so i know it is not a bad battery, appears to be shorting out when i try to start it. Because after cranking it the headlights and dome light would not work. Monkey'd with the starter relay (jump wire from positive to the starter relay test point, the relay clicked but didn't move the starter at all) connected it all back together and was able to get it crank over and start normal.

Didn't have any issues for a week then go out to start it and same thing, acts like it is dead, disconnect battery and starter relay, worked again. For about a week because today..........

at work dead again, except the trick with disconnecting the battery and making the relay click still wouldn't let it start, i turn the key and get nothing, shorts out something because I lose all battery power by the lights not coming on again.

So I am awaiting a new starter relay which i ordered, I am living overseas, and i ordered a new starter. As I await these parts does it seem correct that the relay or starter are the culprit???

Not a great wrench turner so any info would be appreciated to help with this electrical problem. Thx.

 

[Big Country]

that sounds like it would be the problem. The trick is to follow the sequence from ignition swith on and trouble shoot each one. Wiring can be the problem too. Grounding out somehwere? Make sure there is good contact where there is supposed to be too. Hope this helps.

 

[alfie]

Thx, is it normal for the starter relay to just click when you run a jumper wire from the positive terminal to the starter relay test post, it says in the haynes manual that the starter should run, when i do it the relay just goes click, i don't hear anything from the starter. Does this mean the starter relay is bad????

JUST seems really weird that I can monkey with it and it then starts fine for about a week and then out of the blue it has this starting issue.

If a wire were ground/shorting out the system wouldn't it happen all the time and not so intermitantly?

 

[Big Country]

no it;s not normal for it just to click. it should kind of sound like a little motor. That usually means the insides are stuck.