HELP!!! No start issue.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Montague,ma.
HELP!!! No start issue.
I know I should know better, but, I tried to do the up idle mod. Found and ran a wire to the purple /green stripe wire. Went looking for a hot while running wire and found one directly below the steering column (red/ lt green stripe). Connected it to a switch and tried it out.
Truck turned over but seemed more sluggish than normal. Pressed the parking brake and flipped the switch. Truck idled up just fine.
I finished off the connections and wanted to try it one final time. Turned the key to the on position and the radio came on. twisted the key to start and....nothing. tried it several times with no joy. Decide to take a break to give myself a chance to cool off and eat supper.
Went back out and now I get a clicking sound from under the hood and the radio still comes on each time I turn the key, even if I turn the radio off in between tries.
What the hell have I done now?
Truck turned over but seemed more sluggish than normal. Pressed the parking brake and flipped the switch. Truck idled up just fine.
I finished off the connections and wanted to try it one final time. Turned the key to the on position and the radio came on. twisted the key to start and....nothing. tried it several times with no joy. Decide to take a break to give myself a chance to cool off and eat supper.
Went back out and now I get a clicking sound from under the hood and the radio still comes on each time I turn the key, even if I turn the radio off in between tries.
What the hell have I done now?
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: SW Florida
Have you tried undoing everything you did, and put it back the way it was before started working on it? Sounds like you have a few issues there.... a load draining the battery - no start - and a possessed radio.
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Senior User
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From: Montague,ma.
Yes, I undid everything except the connection to the purple wire. With no hot connection I figured I was safe. Still no start and the possessed radio.
Posting Guru
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I'm pretty sure that red/lt green is the ignition 1 circuit. What do your interior lights and power windows and stuff like that do? What about the dash lights? I'd have to look at the shop manuals to be certain.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,723
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From: Roseburg, OR
How old are the batteries? Possible age related or the alternator might not be charging them. Do you have a DVM to test voltage?
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From: Montague,ma.
I do have a DVM but I'm not sure it works. Last time I tried to use it, it said "low batt.". I changed the battery for a fresh one but, it still said the battery was low. By the way, which battery is the starting battery?
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Posting Guru
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From: SW Florida
Both actually, as they are wired in parallel. The starter pulls juice from both at the same time.
Edit....parallel, not series...excuse the brainfart
Edit....parallel, not series...excuse the brainfart
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
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They are wired in "parallel", not "series". Wiring batteries in "series" doubles the voltage. "Parallel" configuration doubles the amps. As was said though, the engine still pulls from both batteries. One dead battery is definitely a problem.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Montague,ma.
Update
Went out this morning to check a few thing you guys suggested.
1. Batteries are Autocraft Gold. Right one has a sticker on it that says 2/10. Can't read the left one as there is a big plastic hold down thingy in the way. I'm going to assume it also is 2/10. Checked connections at the batt. Clean. No corrosion. Loosened the clamps wiggled them back and forth and re-tightened. Still no start. Multi-meter is fubar. Tried a new batt. in it with no joy. I'll have to go buy another.
2. Power windows, blower, interior lights, all work. Turn the key to acc. or on position and radio comes on, on A.M. 530. Turn to start and I get nothing but clicking sound.
Would disconnecting the batts. be a good idea? Could I have screwed up the ECM? When I tapped into the red/lt green wire, could I have severed the wire completely? What would cause the radio to come on when I turn the key?
1. Batteries are Autocraft Gold. Right one has a sticker on it that says 2/10. Can't read the left one as there is a big plastic hold down thingy in the way. I'm going to assume it also is 2/10. Checked connections at the batt. Clean. No corrosion. Loosened the clamps wiggled them back and forth and re-tightened. Still no start. Multi-meter is fubar. Tried a new batt. in it with no joy. I'll have to go buy another.
2. Power windows, blower, interior lights, all work. Turn the key to acc. or on position and radio comes on, on A.M. 530. Turn to start and I get nothing but clicking sound.
Would disconnecting the batts. be a good idea? Could I have screwed up the ECM? When I tapped into the red/lt green wire, could I have severed the wire completely? What would cause the radio to come on when I turn the key?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,723
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From: Roseburg, OR
Sounded like a battery problem to me. I know its tough to believe after a mod like you did, but it happens. I replaced my batteries with a factory Motorcraft set (my originals lasted 8 years).
Replace them in sets.
Do it soon before it kills your FICM
When you install the new batteries, start your truck and set it on high idle and measure voltage on batteries. After glow plugs cycle off your voltage should be in the neighborhood of 14v.
It will not hurt anything to unhook the batteries.
Please don't try to start it anymore without replacing batteries or you risk damaging the FICM.
The radio comes on because it takes less amperage then trying to run a starter.
That is a typical symptom of a dead battery.
Replace them in sets.
Do it soon before it kills your FICM
When you install the new batteries, start your truck and set it on high idle and measure voltage on batteries. After glow plugs cycle off your voltage should be in the neighborhood of 14v.
It will not hurt anything to unhook the batteries.
Please don't try to start it anymore without replacing batteries or you risk damaging the FICM.
The radio comes on because it takes less amperage then trying to run a starter.
That is a typical symptom of a dead battery.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 209
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From: Montague,ma.
Sounded like a battery problem to me. I know its tough to believe after a mod like you did, but it happens. I replaced my batteries with a factory Motorcraft set (my originals lasted 8 years).
Replace them in sets.
Do it soon before it kills your FICM
When you install the new batteries, start your truck and set it on high idle and measure voltage on batteries. After glow plugs cycle off your voltage should be in the neighborhood of 14v.
It will not hurt anything to unhook the batteries.
Please don't try to start it anymore without replacing batteries or you risk damaging the FICM.
The radio comes on because it takes less amperage then trying to run a starter.
That is a typical symptom of a dead battery.
Replace them in sets.
Do it soon before it kills your FICM
When you install the new batteries, start your truck and set it on high idle and measure voltage on batteries. After glow plugs cycle off your voltage should be in the neighborhood of 14v.
It will not hurt anything to unhook the batteries.
Please don't try to start it anymore without replacing batteries or you risk damaging the FICM.
The radio comes on because it takes less amperage then trying to run a starter.
That is a typical symptom of a dead battery.
Guess I've been lucky. 37 years of owning vehicles and I've never had a battery die like that. Fade out slowly, sure, but never work fine one minute and dead the next.
And I've never heard of, nor experienced, the whole phantom radio thing before. Really strange.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,880
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You can't effectively test batteries with only a multimeter.