Start up problem
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Joined: May 2015
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Start up problem
A couple days ago I went to start my 1999 F250 Super Duty. When I turned the key I was met by silence. My first thought was that the battery's were low so I but the charger on and let that run for a couple hours. The truck started right up. Yesterday morning I drove it 30 miles to town. I came out of the store and was meet by the same silence when trying to start it. After fooling around with it for a while I got a screwdriver and jumped the starter relay and it fired right up. I figured the relay must be bad so I bought a new one. After replacing it this morning I was greeted by the same silence when trying to start it. My alternator is putting 14.5 volts out. Trying to start in neutral or pushing the shift lever up does no good. Any ideas out there?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 43
From: Land of Taxes
Yes please its tough enough to trouble shoot sight unseen. Mileage, engine, trans etc...
Next time it does that tap the starter with a ball-peen while a helper turns the key. If it starts the starter or its connections are suspect. You could bench test it before replacing it if in doubt.
Load test the battery(ies). Fail replace. Good move on...
The fact that you were able to get it to start after a charge can mean a bad battery(ies) or a bad connection as you're disturbing the terminals by clamping the charger leads on.
Check all connections from the batteries and to ground.
Remove all positive and neg cables (the large secondary battery cables, keeping battery safety in mine please). Inspect, replace what doesn't pass. A cable can visually inspect OK yet have high internal resistance. Ohm it out if in doubt. Your looking for low not high resistance readings on the Volt/Ohm meter that you're gona buy, (not from harborjunk) if you don't have one. Clean ALL grounds and positives and battery posts. Spray battery terminal protectant on everything, moderately once your all tightened up. Yes you can over do it especially on the battery terminals. The fits-all type replacement battery post terminals are not all that great. Try to solder-n-shrink tube the ends on or buy new cables if you don't want to be bothered. Clean, tight with good grounds you'll be back in business. Id recommend doin this even if you find the starter is bad. It will make the new starter happier, longer..
Next time it does that tap the starter with a ball-peen while a helper turns the key. If it starts the starter or its connections are suspect. You could bench test it before replacing it if in doubt.
Load test the battery(ies). Fail replace. Good move on...
The fact that you were able to get it to start after a charge can mean a bad battery(ies) or a bad connection as you're disturbing the terminals by clamping the charger leads on.
Check all connections from the batteries and to ground.
Remove all positive and neg cables (the large secondary battery cables, keeping battery safety in mine please). Inspect, replace what doesn't pass. A cable can visually inspect OK yet have high internal resistance. Ohm it out if in doubt. Your looking for low not high resistance readings on the Volt/Ohm meter that you're gona buy, (not from harborjunk) if you don't have one. Clean ALL grounds and positives and battery posts. Spray battery terminal protectant on everything, moderately once your all tightened up. Yes you can over do it especially on the battery terminals. The fits-all type replacement battery post terminals are not all that great. Try to solder-n-shrink tube the ends on or buy new cables if you don't want to be bothered. Clean, tight with good grounds you'll be back in business. Id recommend doin this even if you find the starter is bad. It will make the new starter happier, longer..
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