The starter had gone out on my 2005 E350 a couple of weeks ago. I had the mechanic replace the starter, and while he was at it, he replaced both batteries (its such pain in the rear to replace those frame mounted batteries, the poor guy was struggling for two hours).

After he replaced the started, all was well for about a week. Then, a strange thing started happened. It first happened when I drove up by my parents house and parked the truck - I got out, and saw that I didn't park too well, and was blocking a part of their neighbors driveway. So I got back in the truck, turned the key, waited for the glow plug light to turn off, and turned the key to start cranking... and nothing happened. The truck didn't attempt to crank at all. Turned the key a few more times - nothing. Then, out of the blue, I turn the key, it cranks and starts just fine.

This didn't happen again until after a few days ago, but now its starting to happen all the time. This morning the truck didn't attempt to crank on the first turn of the key, but started from the second attempt. When it cranks, the cranks are strong and it starts right up.

There are no CEL codes, so a problem like this can be difficult to diagnose. I really don't want to get stranded somewhere far from home, and I do take the truck on relatively long trips quite often. Could this be something as simple as loose connection somewhere?

 

Check wire connections

 

The Poor Guy should have struggled for two and a half hours.
take it back!!! Tell him to fix it for free

 

It was the starter again. I power washed the whole van, and underneath the chassis pretty much a week after the starter was replaced. I guess the water killed the new starter. I got a brand new starter again, and definitely wont be washing it again, lol.

 

Dang man, change your screen name to OUCH!!.thanks for posting the out come, reps for you

 

Yeah, and I failed to mention that the first starter failed as a result of the truck being flooded by Sandy. The water came up about 6" inside the van, and if it wasn't a diesel, it would probably be toast. I was the only one in my neighborhood who was able to start and drive the morning after the storm. Although I did lose my other two cars.

The original started broke down about a week after the storm - the salt water destroyed it. I guess after I replaced it and powerwashed the chassis, the remains of the salt killed the new starter as well. Hopefully I won't have this problem again.

You can see the water line in the pics below.

 

We donated to help the storm victims. You East Coast People are a strong breed, makes me proud to be an American !!!!!

 

Holely molely thats a lot of water you may want to go to higher ground my freind, Glad you all or ok.rince that truck well

 

That was a Pretty BIG Peice of the Puzzle to leave out^^^^^^^LOL