Replaced starter and wont start. Can jump silenoid with screwdriver and it starts. What could be wrong?

 

Could be the solenoid you are jumping is the problem.
They either go bad, by not starting, or by staying engaged and overrunning the starter
Make sure the wire is on the S terminal of that solenoid, and try again. If no luck, replace with a Motocraft unit
If you replace with aftermarket, you stand a chance of it failing in a short amount of time. I have had them fail in as short as 1 week after replacing one


Could very well be you replaced the starter, and the solenoid was your problem to begin with

 

So even if the silenoid starts truck by using screwdriver it could be bad?

 

How can i tell if solenoid is bad? Anyway to test it?

 

Whack it without breaking it.
There is a copper disc in there, and what happens, over time the arc created from starting burns the copper up to where there is no surface left to make a connection anylonger
a short between the two posts skips the disc, so boom, the starter fires.

IDK, short of having a spare there really isn't a good test that I'm aware of

I keep a box of them on my desk in the shop, because of the amount and age of my fleet

 

Ok ill replace that and see if that fixes it.

 

Could also be an ignition switch problem make sure you are getting 12 volts on the trigger wire. It wont do a thing if it don't know to do it.

 

Mikeal is right, test for voltage in the s wire while someone holds the key to start

 

If no power on trigger wire make sure it is in park good or the clutch is pushed completely to the floor, depending on whether it's auto or stick..

 

If i dont get anything at the wire, does that mean solenoid is bad?

 

Was someone holding the key in start when you were testing?

 

I havent done it yet will be in morning, was just wondering so i know when i do it . If theres nothing what does that mean?

 

Pull the s wire off the solenoid, put a test light in it, and the clamp end on ground.
Have someone turn on the key like they are starting the truck. If it lights, you have a bad solenoid
If not, could be bad ignition switch, or neutral safety switch

Test that first, then we go from there

 

Ok thank you, i will try that and get back to you.

 

Is the s wire the small wire ?