Hi everynone, I am new to the forum here, but have visited a few times in the past.

I just got a 2004 F-150 XLT. 200k miles AT.
The problem is that it won't start.

The previous owner was driving it when it suddenly died and wouldn't crank over. He was told by an auto shop it neded a new engine.

I don't think it needs a new engine because it stopped while driving. I may be wrong.

I put a new battery in it. When I turn the key to start it, it just makes one loud click and doesn't do anything else.

The oil and coolant look fine. Any ideas what may be wrong with it or how to see if the engine is bad?
Thanks in advance.

 

Try turning the engine by hand with a breaker bar if its seized then you shouldn't be able to turn it. if it turns freely then the starter should be able to turn it and then you can test the starter and any related circuits if the engine is fine.

 

I just went out and tried to pull the crank pulley. I couldnt get a socket and ratchet in there with the cooling fan. Looks like I will have to remove it to see if I can turn it over by hand.
Unless there is another way.

 

I see. Sometimes you can try turning the alternator or the like and it should turn the engine if the drive belt has good enough tension. Did you try it from underneath.

 

Thanks for the reply and help.

I will try the alternator. I thought it might just spin around on the belt, but I'll give it a try.
Yea, I tried to go in from under, but seems like a cross frame of something simialr to one was blocking the pulley.

Only way is from the top. I think I can get away with a short socket with ratchet between the pulley and the fan. Just have to find the right size in a short socket. A deep socket wouldnt't fit.

 

I finally got some time to work on the truck. I removed the radiator fan shroud to get to the pulley bolt.
One way I spun the ratchet, I started to loosen the bolt for the pulley. They other way was hard and didn't want to spin.
I had to use an extention on the ratchet, so it was hard to keep it straight when trying to move it.

But I was able to get some stregnth behind it.
I will try removing the fan to eliminate the extension.

But how does it sound? Pulled so hard I loosened the bolt, opposite way it didnt budge.
Does it sound like the engine seized? Or does it need a lot of force to turn the engine over?

Would it have made a difference if the truck was in park or neutral?

I also saw somewhere online, a seized starter could cause the engine not to move. Can someone confirm this.

 

I've never seen a starter seized so that the crankshaft wouldn't rotate. I have seen AC clutches fail that did it, though.

Make sure you remove the accessory drive belt and check for seized accessories before condemning the engine.

 

Thanks for the reply.
Ok next time I work on it I will remove the belt and try turning the crank over alone.

 

Ok I took off the accessory belt and everything on it spun freely but the crank.
I still couldn't get the crank to move with a ratchet with no belt.
I put the belt back on.
I had a friend turn the key and the crank moves!

It makes a one clicking sound and the crank moves maybe 1/2".
Turning the key on and off repeatedly would make the crank turn 1/2" and once every 10 cranks it would turn 1" instead of the 1/2".
While doing this, i also smell something burnt. I can't deacribe the smell though.

I don't think the engine is seized now after this. I may be wrong.

I am thinking moisture is in the cylinders not letting the crank fully turn over to start.
My next step will be removing the sprak plugs and trying to turn the truck on then to see if the engine spins.

Anyone have any info or insight on this?

Thanks in advance.

 

Remove the starter and have it tested-AutoZone, NAPA,ORieley, ect.

 

I can't remember if the guy I got it from said it turned off while driving or didn't start one day.

I will definitely remove the starter first and have it tested.
Seems easier than removing the spark plugs.(It looks like the fuel rail has to be removed).
The burnt smell may be coming from the starter, its the only part working when I turn the key and small something.

Thanks for the help and reply. I'll be back with some new info.

 

The smell could also be the magic smoke getting let out of the cables. Magic smoke is what makes electrical stuff work.

 

Possibly.
The battery cables get really hot when turning the key to start the truck.

 

Excessive heat enables the magic smoke to escape.

 

crawl under the truck and look under the flywheel. There is access to the flywheel ring gear. Might have to remove a sheet metal panel or plug. Bar the ring gear over with a 18 inch screw driver. you can turn 4-5 teeth at a time. Turn it one full revolution. If it turns over OK, then you need to look at the starter/ cables / connections... If it wont turn over you need to look a cylinders full of antifreeze / cam chain - tensioner problems.