Hey guys, I have a 1999 F150 Lariat 5.4 that's been sitting for a few weeks waiting for a new MAF. Finally got a MAF from a junkyard (out of an 01 Expedition) and installed it.
Turned the key, cranks once, then I hear a loud click and then just continuous clicking. I did some research and people are saying this is just the starter solenoid and that the battery may be dead. I charged the battery a couple hours and waited until it showed 11.some volts, tried to start it again, didn't even turn over, just clicking. I also noticed the theft light blinking rapidly, but if it were the PATS acting up, wouldn't the motor at least turnover?
So I went back to charging the battery. Went out a couple hours later (at night), and when I opened the door, none of the lights came on. Then I hear a click, the lights come on, followed by another click, and the lights went off. This happens each time I open and close the door.

So did I potentially pop a fuse? Or is my battery just fried? Would replacing the MAF with the newer one out of the expedition cause any weird issue? I doubt it, but anything is possible at this point I guess.

Any other ideas?
Thanks guys.

 

Need 12 volt plus to start. Sounds like you need to check and clean battery ends and check for loose cable

 

Bad battery, battery cable or connection.

 

Alright, I guess once this torrential storm passes over I'll go hook up the charger and let it sit till 12v. Guess I was just too impatient, but also could have sworn I've started vehicles showing 11v.

 

Maybe you did, but, if you have a battery with one or more bad cells, you might read 11 or 12 volts unloaded, but the battery falls flat on its face as soon as you demand several hundred amps surge current from it.

 

Well I'm sure hoping that's not the case because then I'd be 2 for 2 on vehicles needing batteries replaced this year, but we'll see tomorrow.

So why would there be a click from the dash before and after the cab lights went off/on? I've dealt with plenty of dead batteries before but this has been the most strange (and noisy).

 

Until you have VERIFIED the battery, connections, and cables, you're just guessing.

Perform the tests so you can either rule those possibilities in or out and then go from there. I learned a LONG time ago that if you didn't have proper power and ground, nothing else mattered so I was trained to ALWAYS test them first.

 

You can get dash lights and dome lights with a poor connection or a week battery.

 

I'm not saying it isn't the battery, even though I haven't had the opportunity to check (taxes and rain getting in the way), I was just curious about what the click may be.

And yes, I understand getting lights even with a weak battery.

If it weren't for all the clicking I wouldnt even be asking, I'd go straight for the battery. I mostly was just wondering if the clicking could mean something else, or if they were normal with a dead battery.

 

It'll click with a bad connection or weak battery. That's the solenoid trying to engage. If you can jump start it than it has to be one or the other. I'm thinking connection dirty

 

Unfortunately the truck was sitting where I couldn't get another car to it to jump it. But I cleaned up the terminals and charged it to a full 12v and... nothing. So 1 new battery later it was on the road, and running wayyyyy better than it did before with the new maf, so I'm pretty happy.

Now I just need to fix the heater, brakes, and exhaust.

Thanks for all the input guys