My 2007 F-250 6.0 will sometimes crank up no problem then sometimes I can turn the key and it will not turn over and will not crank. Could this be a bad fuse and it relay or is it more than likely something that's fixen to break the bank?

 

That's probably a failing starter solenoid. You might consider just replacing the starter. Most parts stores can test them if you pull it out.

 

Hey I saw you made a post in a different thread, that when it's acting up you can use a screwdriver on the starter solenoid to crank it. Does that work every time? If so it's not the starter then, and it's in the circuit between the key and the solenoid.

There is a wire on the passenger side under the hood that runs along the fender channel. It's a single wire with a barrel connector that you can squeeze to release. If you're familiar with Fords in general, it's the same connector they often use for the ECU ground wire. You can disconnect that wire, and take the long lead and touch it to the positive battery cable end, where the alternator wire stud is to crank the engine. When disconnected you can use the other side of this wire to test for 12v when the key is turned to start.

Next time it acts up I would disconnect that wire and check for 12v when the key is turned to start. If you have it, then run the other end of the cable over to the battery to crank the engine manually. One of those two tests should fail, and then you'll have narrowed down the issue a little more.

This is a great video that illustrates the wire I'm talking about. This is Anthony showing a bubble test but he uses this wire to crank the engine from under the hood.

 

Thanks for the help

the wire was working for a little while but the problem has gotten worse and the wire has stopped working

 

Try taking it out of Park to neutral. Sometimes the shifting link gets worn.

 

When the wire isn't working, does the screwdriver still work? There isn't much if anything between the wire and the starter, so that really makes me suspect the starter. However it could be the wire itself, and if so the screwdriver would always work where the wire won't.

 

The Screwdriver has not failed me yet. But after running the truck. I can turn it off and immediately try to crank it back up and it will not start

 

When you use the screwdriver are you bridging the large post to the small one, or just the two large posts?

 

I honestly do not know I can't see it that well. I connect the bottom larger one to what seems to be a smaller one. I'm not positive though all I know is it works

 

When I put it in neutral it still did not crank. And the wire has stopped working completely

 

I think you should inspect the connection of the small wire to the starter solenoid. That connection might have failed. The wire trick is simply putting 12v on that small wire to activate the solenoid.. if the connection is bad the 12v never gets to the solenoid so the wire trick won't work and neither will your key. What will work is bridging the large post to the small one at the starter, effectively doing the exact same thing as the wire trick but doing it with a screwdriver instead. That will engage the solenoid and fire the starter.

However, if the solenoid is bad it doesn't matter if you get 12v to the small post, it won't work. What will work is bridging both large posts with a screwdriver, which by-passes the solenoid.

That's why I want to know what you're doing with that screwdriver.. are you activating the solenoid or are you bypassing the solenoid.. One indicates a possible wiring problem, the other indicates a bad solenoid. Neither are going to be all that difficult to fix but you're going to need to pay enough attention down there with your screwdriver to see exactly what you're doing so that you know what the problem is.

 

seijirou, That is a great post.

 

^^ x2

​​​​​​​havent had starter problems yet but this is great info.

 

Thanks for the help I will update as things happen