No Start
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 68
Likes: 3
From: Colorado Springs, CO
No Start
Ok, I have a strange no start issue right now. My excursion won't start. I have power to everything and both batteries are at 12 volts or a bit more but the starter won't engage. If you turn the key to start all that happens is relays click under the dash and the airbag light flashes. It almost seems like the transmission is in gear.
Does anyone have any ideas? It did this twice about a month ago and has been fine ever since until today.
Does anyone have any ideas? It did this twice about a month ago and has been fine ever since until today.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Auto batteries are called 12 volt batteries but they are closer to 13 when they are fully charged. 12 volts is pretty much dead and won't crank. How old is the battery? Tried cleaned cable clamps and posts? If this has happened prior it may be time for a new one depending on the age. If not there's some other tests and things you can do.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 68
Likes: 3
From: Colorado Springs, CO
The batteries test at exactly 12.6 and 12.9. It isn't a battery issue because even with me trying to jump the vehicle it still will not engage the starter. I could sit all day and watch a movie in it because everything else works. It is almost as if PATS is acting up or it is not seeing the vehicle in park or neutral.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,450
Likes: 13
From: Forest lake minnesota
Have someone turn the key while you climb underneath and tap the starter with a hammer, be sure you are in park and if possible set the parking brake. If the truck starts you have a bad starter..
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Do what Chris suggested. And don't be afraid to smack it with the hammer with a little more force than a tap. Usually a repeated tap will work, but sometimes it takes a firmer hit to take up the slight slack in the brushes in the starter to get it moving.
Stewart
Stewart
Last edited by Stewart_H; Jan 28, 2014 at 10:39 PM.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,760
Likes: 1,079
From: St Louis
PATS on an Excursion doesn't have a starter interrupt so that rules out PATS as a suspect.
Try placing the shift lever in N instead of P and see if that makes any difference. Checking for a maladjusted/defective DTR starter circuit. For example,a loose shift lever can prevent engagement of the start circuit.
Try placing the shift lever in N instead of P and see if that makes any difference. Checking for a maladjusted/defective DTR starter circuit. For example,a loose shift lever can prevent engagement of the start circuit.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 12,236
Likes: 753
From: Houston, Texas
If the above fails, try this:
-Make sure you have some room around you and that no one is behind the truck.
-Turn the key to the Wait To Start position, DO not start, and put the truck in reverse.
-Roll the truck back a few feet, then put it in park or neutral and try starting.
This has happened to me with my 7.3 Excursion and it solved the problem. The one time this didn't work was when the starter was dead and needed to be replaced.
-Make sure you have some room around you and that no one is behind the truck.
-Turn the key to the Wait To Start position, DO not start, and put the truck in reverse.
-Roll the truck back a few feet, then put it in park or neutral and try starting.
This has happened to me with my 7.3 Excursion and it solved the problem. The one time this didn't work was when the starter was dead and needed to be replaced.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 68
Likes: 3
From: Colorado Springs, CO
project89SHO, what does PATS do then?
Toreador_Diesel, did the roll back and put it in park and had luck in the past bit not this time so might have been a fluke.
Yesterday I went out and tried
Turned over once and nothing after that.
I gave up and it is not waiting at the dealership. I will update for future reference once I hear back.
Toreador_Diesel, did the roll back and put it in park and had luck in the past bit not this time so might have been a fluke.
Yesterday I went out and tried
There is a single thick yellow with light blue stripe coloured wire on the passenger side of the engine compartment, beside the vacuum pump with a "squeeze and pull" type disconnect. Disconnect it, and connect the male half of the connector to the passenger side battery positive terminal. Do this with the ignition key in the RUN position. Does the truck start?
I gave up and it is not waiting at the dealership. I will update for future reference once I hear back.
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