Starter/Solenoid/Charging problems

[lint]

Starting last week I began having issues restarting my truck (68 f250 CS w/ 390) after making quick stops at the gas station etc. The start would really drag. It was never a problem when the truck had been sitting for awhile, only after short stops.

Two nights ago I made a quick stop to pick up my kids and the dang truck wouldn't start at all. Hooked up jumpers and charged for a bit, and eventually got it to turn over albeit with a very slow drag.

Battery is a month old. Pulled and tested starter, it checked out. Noticed a clicking noise from the solenoid so replaced that. I think I may have hooked it up backwards though because I tried to jump it again but when I connected the positive cable it sparked and I could hear the motor try to turn over. I swapped the two small wires on the front of the solenoid and voila! Started right up!

Went out an hour later and tried to start it again and I had absolutely no juice left in my battery. Tried to jump again and the same sparking situation occurred. It seems as if my starter is constantly pulling power from my battery and draining it. I've rechecked all the connections and tightened them down, I also flipped the solenoid over as I'm pretty sure it was upside down. Now I'm waiting on somebody to come and jump me as my battery is still completely dead - no lights, nothing.

Any ideas about the initial cause of the problem and what I did wrong, what else I can try?

[mrollings53]

If your battery's not staying charged your alternator is going bad.

[lint]

Yes but what is causing the spark when I put a jumper on it, and making the starter turn?

[wildcard]

Sounds like the cable from the batt. pos. post is on the wrong side of the solenoid if the starter is turning the motor over when the jumper cables are applied. Or you have a bad solenoid out of the box. I bought 3 solenoids for my 85 before getting a good one.

[fordman]

hot starters on thee trucks is a thing they all have. i put a new starter on mine and it would get hot and not start. turn over slowly. thats is a sign of bad or worn hot starter end bushings.

as far as sparking coming from hooking up cables that could be backward starter and battery cables. on the starter relay. or even a short inside the starter.

and one other thing i remember someone else had happen to them. they just got and old starter relay the parts place gave him without looking it up. not all years of starter relays are the same. and can work backwards or not at all when used on our trucks. or you could have gotten a bad one too. like already said.

[oldyeller69]

i had the same problem it turned out to be a bad cable to the starter it had touched the exhaust and melted the cover and shorted to ground.p.s. 90 percent of electrical problems are caused by bad ground.