Ok ya'll I have a 2001 F150 XLT SuperCrew with about 88,000 miles on it and for the past month I have had starting issues. I would crank and the motor would turn over but not start just keep whining, then I would turn the key back, and crank again and it would fire up. The other week it would turn over at all so I popped the hood and messed with the terminals and it started right up. Then last night I get nothing. Mess with the battery, nothing. Try jumping it, nothing.

When I go to start the truck, I recieve power to my radio, lights, and everything else and then when I go to start, it sounds like a relay clicks ONCE then I lose all power as if I am draining my battery.

Today I switch batteries to a newer one I had laying around, and still same problem. Checked all fuses and relays and they seem fine. EXCEPT the relay for my PCM and Cluster gets extremely hot to the touch while trying to start.

Tried hitting the starter with a hammer and cranking it at the same time with a friend, still nothing. Connections to the starter seem fine but just seems like its dead.

Another buddy had said since my terminal connections are so corroded for the battery, it could be giving me enough juice to power everything but when I go for the big jolt to start, it just won't allow the power through and my relays and getting hot because they are getting backed up with power.

Then another buddy says that my starter could just be blown and causing my relays to get hot from the back up of power.

I am trying to get this done with myself and buddies as a learning experience and to save money.

ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED.
Thanks

Jeff

 

I had something similar to this and mine was a fuel pump. It was probably 3 or so years ago and I would keep it at me local fix-it-shop for a few days so it would happen while it was there. Of coarse it didn't but when I took it to the dealer the diagnosed it as a fuel pump and a few days later it was fixed and nothing since.

I have an '01 4.6 supercrew.

 

It was actually my starter solenoid! Got it fixed.

Thanks for the post though!