[bullghia]

Hi. I have a '79 Mustang II. It's been running fine most recently, but suddenly my solenoid started ticking. I picked up a new one, installed it, and it's doing the same thing. Does anybody have any idea what the problem could be. I haven't been able to start the car in about 2 months and it's really bugging me. Could it be a problem with the starter? I truly appreciate any and all help. Thanks in advance.

[turboeeyore]

it could be the starter, or a bad ground, it could also be the neutral saftey switch wires @ the transmission could be rotted loosing connection ( if automatic)

[bullghia]

It is an automatic. Plus, when the car was running, I would sometimes have to put it into neutral to get the car started. I just read this bit of info from a differet forum.

"The neutral switch shouldn't be the problem if the solenoid is closing with the ignition switch."

Does this make any sense? I just have to form a plan of action to get this car started again. It drives me nuts to just see it sit. Thanks again.

[STANG II]

First off there was no 79 Mustang II (74-78) so I presume you have a Fox either way If your selonid is clicking and won't engage the starter it could be one of the following.
Weak Battery
Bad grounds
Binding starter
Or combination of all 3.
The neutral safety switch should not affect the solenoid, my switch was bad and I had to giggle it to engage the selonoid to start the car.
The grounds have a tendency to carrode on older cars even if they still look good, run a good ground.
Put a load test on the battery, if it's weak 10 volts or less, the solenoid will click but not send juice to the starter.
If the key when turned engages the solenoid (click) it's NOT the neutral safety switch.

[bullghia]

Sorry for the typo. It's definitely a '78. I was born in '79. I don't know how I could confuse the two.

But thanks for the suggestions. I'll check out the grounds and check out the battery. Hopefully that does the trick. I'll let you know what I find. Thanks again.

[bullghia]

Well, I checked my battery and the meter read, 11.90.

I know it should be 12V. Is 11.90V too little to keep the car from starting? Or would the reading be much less if the battery were the cause for the car not starting? Thanks again.

[StangIIttop]

When this happens to me I clean off the battery posts and terminals. That has been taking care of the problem. Also reads 11.90 volts on the battery posts but drops alot when checking at the terminals.

[turboeeyore]

see if you're local auto parts store has a automated battery tester, the one's we have in canada at partsource automatically charges it quickly before testing, if it has a dead cell it can tell immedately, they work really good, also the igniton switch to the solinoid travels to shifter on the side of the transmission before it reaches the solinoid, so if you are not getting power to the ignition wire @ the solinoid check the harness under the car. your's is clicking when you turn the key so you should be getting 12 volts to the solinoid.