1989 Ford F-150 starting problem

CATMASTER500

MEMBER
1989 FORD F-150
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
150,000 MILES

I have a 1989 ford f150 5.8 litre with 150000 miles on it. Reciently it blew a head gasket. So I bought a rebuilt motor & put it in. Im having a starting problem with it. It's not a new problem, it was doing it before I replaced the engine. It starts fine when its cold, but after getting up to normal tempature it turns over like it has a dead battery.I load tested the battery. It tested fine. I replaced the starter, alternator, all the battery cables, the selenoid. I also checked & double checked the timing. Im at a loss here I have hundreds of dollars into it & cant figure this out. Can someone help me please.

6 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,269 POSTS

Is the starter protected from the exhaust? It could be getting hot and causing this to happen.

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Thursday, March 25th, 2010 AT 9:20 PM

CATMASTER500

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Yea I thought of that too. No it didnt have anything so I put some insulation off of a junk car to try it,
& see what it would do & the stuff I put on didnt make a difference. Im gonna try to get a metal heat shield & try that. Thanks

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Friday, March 26th, 2010 AT 6:01 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

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Are you sure it is like a dead battery or could it be a timing issue?

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Friday, March 26th, 2010 AT 7:13 AM

CATMASTER500

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I load tested the battery & double checked the timing! I even went as far as taking the battery out of my wifes van & trying it in the pickup with no luck. That should of eleminated the thought of a battery. Like I said im at a loss here. I just got a huge chilton's manuel from the library yesterday. Its pointing me towards a fusable link or ignition switch. That is what im gonna try next. Thanks

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Saturday, March 27th, 2010 AT 4:39 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

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108,269 POSTS

It could be the ignition switch, but it if makes contact, I don't know why it would cause the starter to turn slower. Regardless, let me know what you find.

Joe