I have a 99 F-350 Powerstroke. Well I guess the truth is my son has one now.

He went out and started the truck yesterday and it started fine, I have been gone for work and the truck has been sitting for three weeks. It started right up. Then he went to goto school this morning and nothing. It seems that the starter is getting no power, all I hear is a clunk sound coming from the right inner fender well. The batterys are new, and have full charge. Please any help would be appreciated.

 

Did you try starting it in neutral? Is the shifter sloppy? If so there are torx screws that can work loose and cause a no start condition.



The 99's should have a starter solenoid on the passenger's side inner fender that you could test voltage to and from on as well.

 

If it's making a clicking or clunking sound, the shifter isn't the problem.

More than likely, it's the starter or the starter relay.

I just went through this with my V-10 Superduty this week. The starter motor circuit in your diesel should be the same.

It's easy to troubleshoot. All you need is a meter and an assistant.

Connect the meter's negative lead to chassis ground and the positive lead to the small terminal on the starter. Hit the ignition switch to START and see if that small wire goes to battery voltage (it should, if the starter relay on the inner fender is good).

If that test passes, move the positive meter lead to the large terminal. It should measure battery voltage. If it does, hit the STARTer and watch the meter reading. If the reading stays relatively steady, you need a new starter. If the voltage drops way down, perhaps under a few volts, you have a bad battery cable or connection between the battery and the starter.

In my case, it was the starter. Had the same thing happen to me on my old 97 on vacation two years ago. That was fun!

 

I checked the bolts, they are tight as is the shifter and steering. I will get someone to help me check the power off the starter relay. I think that is what is making the clunk sound. There are three terminals on the relay a small one, and two large ones. Does it matter which large one I do the test on? Someone said I could jump across the relay with a screwdriver and make the truck start, I am not exactly sure what to do there, is this a good idea?

 

I dont have a meter, so I went and bought a new solenoid. Put it in and there is no differance. Any other suggestions.