With one truck out of commission for a few days I have to count on my 1996 F150 300 5 speed. Unfortunately, that one has been having issues with starting when the temperature is -20 or colder. All this next week is supposed to be colder than that, -33 tonight and only -24 tomorrow...


What it does--put in the clutch, turn the key, and I get dash lights and heater fan, but it does not turn over. Sometimes after 3 or 4 tries it would start, sometimes not. Initially I thought it was the neutral safety switch, so I had that replaced. (it was corroded inside so thought for sure that would fix it.) Nope.


Next I replaced the starter. Mechanic assured me that would fix it for sure.


Just went out and tried to start it. (This is the first morning cold enough to test it since the new starter was put in) Nothing. I tried it a few times, gave up, went in the house, few minutes later went out & tried it and it rolled over and started.


What else might it be? Earlier in the winter it was flooding itself. Replaced a heat sensor that was showing the truck was running at 263C--with the new sensor, no more problems with flooding and fuel consumption seems much lower. I don't know what the cold start was like up to that point as I only bought the truck in April; this is the first winter I have driven it, and we didn't have any -20 until after that sensor was replaced.


Could that sensor (or some other one) be telling the truck that it is too cold to start, and so make it not turn over? Any ideas would be most welcome!

 

All those temp sensors are ignored on cold startup so failure to even roll over is a mechanical(something physically preventing the motor from rotating) or a starter electrical issue like a bad engine ground. Do the lights dim when you put the key to the start position on these cold starts or do you get no response from anything and the starter doesn't even engage the ring gear?

 

Either bad connections or a bad battery I have had two batteries that acted the same way.

 

I will have to take notice if the lights dim--I didn't pay much attention to that.

I thought perhaps battery too; it is a new battery, supposed to be a good one, put in just a few weeks ago. Cables seem solid--had similar problem in another truck one time, but with that one I would move the cable and get a spark and/or puff of smoke and then the truck would turn over and start.

 

Just tried it--when I turn the key the headlights do dim (or go right out).
So that means...what?
Thanks for any suggestions you can give me from here.

 

Bad battery or bad cable connections or bad cables.

 

Looks like the problem is in the steering column. -34 thousand morning and no way it would start. I put a heater in the cab for 20 minutes and then it started first try. Someone suggested it is the ignition switch--working to a point but not making the right connection to make the engine roll over. Guess I will try that next AND install a car warmer for good measure.