Car cranks when I connect the battery with key in off postion.

At the starter solenoid usually two voltage circuits. One comes from the battery, hot all the time. The other circuit goes hot with key in the crank position. The starter is usually grounded through the engine block.
Gm, the solenoid usually sits on top of starter, Ford may have solenoid under the hood on the fender lining. It's possible you have a starter relay?
I need year--make--model? Make sure battery has a full charge and battery connections all good.

Had same problem. Sounds strange but I tried spare key that had never been used & it starts every time. The old key eas 10 years old & just quit working. Try another key. Hope this helps.

no cranks, (A/T or M/T?)(
battery lugs cleaned?
Key turned on , CEL glows in dash, Check engine light>? yes, good.
does car crank jumper cable started.??????
if yes, your battery is bad or discharged, (good batteries can just be discharged, discharged dont make them bad, only dead or weak)
if ,jumper fails, to crank it fast.
then hot wire the solenoid (on side of starter caseing)
key in pocket, '
jump the big lug to the very tiny lug on the solenoid
cranks , not? bad starter
yes cranks but dont run, good, key is in pocket for safety, this is normal
but the KEY line is dead.
bad PRNDL switch
see the tricks section here

http://www.fixkick.com/nocrank.html#tricks

If it does not crank, it could be the key switch, the neutral safety switch, or the starter.
While you are under the car you need to check to see if you have power on the purple wire at the starter solenoid when the key switch is in the start position. That is power coming from the key switch thru the neutral safety switch that energizes the starter solenoid.

But those are ignition parts. If the car won't crank, there is a problem between the battery, ignition switch, and the starter.
Try this, Darren: With key on, does your dash light up, gauges working and check engine light on? Turn key to start. Do you hear a click form the area of the starter? If you hear the starter solenoid click, and you know the battery is charged up good, then likely the starter is out, and needs to be taken off for testing or replacement. But that is assuming that the battery cables and their.connections are good and allowing full battery power to the starter.
If you hear no click in start, turn the headlights on and watch their intensity while someone turns key to crank. If the lights dim noticeably and no cranking, then the starter is bad or needs testing. If the lights don't change intensity when key is at crank position, then possibly the starter solenoid is bad or the circuit from ignition switch to the starter solenoid is not allowing current to pass. Take off the small wire (brown, I think) from the starter solenoid and see if it has power when key is in crank position. If it has power, the starter has to come off-it or the solenoid is bad. If no power on the solenoid wire with key in crank, then the circuit from ignition switch to the solenoid will have to be checked. There are at least a couple of components in that path- one is the starter relay, another is the neutral safety switch (or clutch switch on manuals). Also if no power on the solenoid wire, check the 30 amp fuse in the power distribution center by the battery. It may be fuse # 10, at least it is on a '97 Jeep. Heck, check all your fuses while you're at it.
Good luck.

When its hooked up, you should be able to put 12 volts on the little stud on the solenoid and it should start. One large stud will have 12 volts on it, so just jump it right there. Did you get the wires in the right place. The solenoid should have 1 large wire going down to the starter. Be sure the battery cables are clean and tight ( both ends) Check battery voltage when cranking, should go to 10-11 volts. Check voltage between negative terminal on battery and engine, should be ZERO when cranking. The solenoid has 2 large studs, make sure the battery positive wire and all the other wires are hooked to this stud, the other large stud should just have the wire going to the starter.

There are 2 connections on the solinoid the main positive feed.(thick wire from battery)which will sometimes have other wires connected with it and a thinner wire(approx. 3mm thick) with a push on lug from the ignition relay.Check that none of those wires are in the wrong place.it will cause what you are describing

the new solenoid is probably causing this you didnt say why you changed the solenoid in the first place

when you turn the key to crank the engine can you hear a click each time you turn the key. If you can hear it that is your starter solenoid. It is suppose to connect the battery to the starter motor. speak pf coincidence I had that exact same problem with my 94 F150 today. On the way home I stopped and bought a new starter, (which by the way comes with a new solenoid already attached to the starter motor). If you can hear the click I'd say your starter is bad. If there is no click, Your solenoid is not working. The problem could be no voltage is getting to the solenoid, or the solenoid is bad. No voltage getting to the solenoid can be checked by putting a voltmeter on the smaller wire going to the solenoid and turning the key. You can make a substitute voltmeter by buying a 12 volt car light and a socket to match connect 2 wires to the socket and you have a voltage indicator, put one wire on the smaller wire on the solenoid and the other wire to the engine metal (the ground wire). turn the key and see if the light come on. If it doesn't the solenoid/starter is bad.

Hope this helps

the starter should be replaced. The solenoid is kikcing the pinion out but there is no contact being made to turn the starter motor. I have the exact same truck and before i changed the starter used the old starter tap trick. Tap the starter casing with a hammer and it should start turning again. hope this was helpful for you. Good luck.