1992 F250 - no start

I have an old 1992 F250 4X4 with a 351 engine and a 5 speed. It is as rough as a cob but it runs perfect and doesn't leak or burn oil. Parking brake doesn't work so I have a habit of shutting the engine down and leaving it in gear. The other day I was moving some things around jumped back in to start it and all it would do was make the solenoid click. Son came over to help and we jumped the solenoid and it would still only click down by the starter. I assumed the starter had died. We roll started it and parked it on a hill so we could start it again. Got a new starter and installed it (also found that only one bolt holds the starter on - the other one has the head snapped off and acts as a stud - second Ford F250 with this issue). Jumped in and click only make the solenoid click. I thought well, its possible the battery is the cause even though it never gave any indication it was dying and it is just short of 3 years old. Put the battery charger on it for 10 hours - still only click. Took the battery to the parts store and they checked it - still over 700 cranking amps. Cleaned the posts and installed the old battery again - still just a click...

Any ideas?

Have a 1995 F-250 4x4 5speed w/7.5L. Sometimes for no apparent reason I'll hit the key and nothing, not even a click. I'll move the clutch pedal some and hit the key and it starts. I think there is a starting circuit relay under the hood too. IF you are sure the solenoid is good, it could be that relay getting weak OR the neutral safety switch is not working. Try moving the clutch pedal in and out a few times then restart. Otherwise track down that relay and replace with another known good one. An ignition switch getting worn out could also be problematic. BTW it has 259,000 miles so it's been around the block a few times;-) Good Luck with it!

Could be a bad battery cable or a bad solenoid either one can/will go bad

Need to do some basic diagnostics.

A test light is the easiest tool to use.

Have an assistant hold the starter switch while testing, see where the light fails to light. Could be a bad cable. If you trace power all the way to the starter stud and still no crank, test to the starter case. Possibly the starter is not grounded to the engine.

Be careful, the engine could begin cranking any time!

The missing bolt is concerning. Any way to get it out with Visegrips?

I agree with old, check battery connections. My 95 F350 has corrosion problems all the time.

Test light on the starter side of the starter relay (solenoid) will identify if the starter side is getting juice. I like old's thinking. If the bolt holding the starter is acting like a locator, it can be removed with vicegrips and replaced. Jim

Yes what old said. My 1981 F150 that I bought new has a history of poor solenoid connections.

My sons 95 F250 diesel. You have to push the clutch down hard then push the brake hard to get it to crank. Last year just the clutch hard against the floor.

Wouldn't jumping the solenoid reveal that problem?

If your talking about going from the 2 big posts with a heavy wire yes and no. Yes as to if the solenoid is bad but if you have a bad cable or connection no. If it doesn't start by jumping the solenoid all that says is the problem isn't the solenoid but doesn't address a bad cable of connection

In a pinch, you can use a set of jumper cables to eliminate a battery cable problem, either from the battery to solenoid, and/or solenoid to the starter. The solenoid can make a solid click but still not provide power to the starter. The solenoid needs a good ground through the two mounting bolts. I guess if you are jumping the 2 big lugs on the solenoid, then you have a battery cable problem, or the starter is not grounding.

Is the engine gronded to the frame adequately? Jim

There is a starter safety switch on the clutch pedal pivot bracket that will not complete the circuit from the key to trigger the solenoid (only on manual trans). Thus no click when it's not making contact. Simple adjustment on the bracket or the plug in on the switch is corroded. That's a simple one. Larry

Broke down and brought it to a shop. They replaced a Marine terminal and it appears to have fixed it.