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97 E-350 5.4 No start

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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 11:22 PM
  #1  
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hootvan
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From: Billings
97 E-350 5.4 No start

Does anybody have a start system schematic for a 97 Ford E-350 w/ 5.4? I jumped across the start solenoid behind the battery and can get the van to start but it won't start with the ignition switch. I checked for voltage at the small terminal (in the wire boot ) and it doen't look like I am getting any voltage there. I don't know if it runs through a relay before there or if it is ECM controlled. When I turn the ignition switch it doesn't click, just makes the radio cut out, and I can here some relays clicking somewhere. Lights don't dim, and battery has good voltage. Just need to know where the juice in the wire is supposed to come from.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2012 | 11:09 AM
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Check the fuse panel on right hand side under the hood! make sure all is good there before going farther.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 09:29 AM
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Fixed it

Okay, here is what I found.

Removed ignition start switch, under column, and moved lever and tested white/pink wire for voltage-tested good

Removed battery and removed starter solenoid to bench test-tested good

Looked over diagram I found in the Haynes manual and traced circuit through neutral safety switch- decide to check it out, but first let me put the solenoid back, battery back and ignition start switch back.

As I set my worklight down on the floor to reinstall the ignition start swith, I see a red 10A mini fuse laying on the carpet. Getting out my fuse diagram, I go through the layout and figure out it is from position 34, the Start Circuit/Neutral safety switch fuse.

I stick the fuse back in the panel, and it falls out again, I proceed to give the tabs on the fuse a little bend to try to get it to grab in the terminals in the fuse box, no luck. I take some solder and build up the thickness of the tabs and reinstall the fuse, success, it stays in position.

Reinstall ignition start switch and turn the ignition tumbler, success
 
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 09:51 AM
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Good find!
 
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Old Jan 12, 2012 | 07:15 AM
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That is a good find and I had something similar myself----was aggravating needless to say.

What I did was use a magnifying glass to get a better look at the fuse box terminals and noticed they were spread too far apart---most likely by the previous owner. Using a small pick or scribe it was easy to "close up" the terminals making the fuse fit snug and have good contact.

Inserting the smaller blade-type fuses incorrectly or at the wrong angle can cause the block terminals to be spread apart like described----these days I'm a bit more careful.

Thanks for the tech tip!
 
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