Hi,

I have a 1993 FORD Champion 25 passenger bus, E350 V8 7.3L diesel.

I have had some weird things going on with my ignition system. Two weeks ago, I had no accessories function on the ignition, no Wait to start light, the engine CRANKED right away and started. kinda funky, so I turned it off and repeated it, same thing. in ACCESSORIES the engine was cranking and starting, even before the WTS light was off. The next week after sitting. NO START. I get a series of clicks at the speed of hazard indicators.. click click.... click click... etc. No cranking. All lights and everything work, some dimming of the lights where trying to fire the engine and the odometer would flash once.

Figuring my old batteries needed replacement or charging (reading 12.1V) I bought a charger first with a 2A trickle charge and left it plugged in a couple of days, voltmeter read I was at 13.5V. trying to start I got clicks for 10 secs and then she cranked and starting running. the next day, just the repeating clicking sound and NO cranking.

I had a fusebox over my head, since its a bus for all the interior lights, with a selenoid there that clicks when I try to start. Then under the dash I get the repeat clicking happening. I pulled off the firewall and I saw a blackbox that houses the starter relay(??) looked it where the clicking was coming, was smoking a little white smoke smelled like diesel not plastic though.

I Figure I should start by replacing the least expensive things first and move up. So I was thinking getting a new starter selenoid. Any suggestions??!?

I'd rather do this myself yet I can't seem to find the right diagrams, I followed the positive battery line into the cab... perhaps to the selenoid over my head in the fusebox?

ATTACHED photo of the accessories fuse box, that is, the one over the drivers side for lights etc...

 

I just had the exact same thing happen in my 87 F-250.... went up to the moutains saved a bus, got back to shop turned it off..... wouldnt re start.. no ign power at all... ended up being a damn bad ground right off the remote silinoid ... it was fuse linked.... get a power probe 3 ..... bet damn 300$ I have ever spent.... use it on the buses all the time..... takes me an hour takes the other guys all danm day and then they ask to borrow my power probe.....

 

Ok, whoa hang on back up for the newbie here.
THanks for the reply
Here's what I missed
saved a bus? what do you mean
whats a remote selenoid?
if it was fuse linked, what did that mean for the repair? you blew a fuse and fixed the ground wire?
what's a power 3 probe? and where can I get one?
Where can I find the remote selenoid?

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ok so a powerprobe III... its like a continuity tester/voltmeter?

PP319FTC Power Probe III ....?Powers up Components!?

 

I got my power probe 3 from my local tool dealer... if you have cash they will sell to anyone.... I got mine from cronwell tools......

I had a broken ground wire that was fusable likned to the ground.... wierd I know... thats ford sometimes.... I would check for contunuity through ignition power points, like the remote silinoid for the starter, wich also should be powering the ignition... on the right side of your picture the big crome thing... looks like a remote silinoidmay nee to use a jump wire... make sure u use a fuse when using a jump wire or you will have magic blue smoke.... hard as hell to get that back into the wire...

 

Putting in a new starter this weekend so we'll see how that holds up, the starter is getting 12V when we try to start it, we'll see if its that or if the batteries really are shot.

 

Ok, damn swapped out the starter and beched test the old one, no luck getting it to work after jumping it with my battery. Didn't test the new one before I put it in.. d"oh. Still clicks. Damn. Whats next? batt reads 12.7 volts today.

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Ford E350 Won't start, clicks. - YouTube
what is this black casing? Anyone?

 

bad remote starter silinoid should be on passenger side inner fender well....you will see big wires going to it and from it....

 

did ya take it off and clean the metal grounds good?

 

Replaced the starter solenoid, still, the same problem but the vehicle was at least starting however it was shorting out and starting in accessories and it was constantly engaging the starter in P or N and grinding the flywheel. Swapped out the neutral safety switch on the tranny and we're all good now.

 

Good call.... was next guess.....forgot your an auto trans... almost forgot.... makes sence..