1984 f150 XLT 2WD Auto

I have a very very odd problem.

Rewind to 2.5 month ago:
I had no power to my radio in with the key in accessory.
-the truck always started though.

I loosened the bolt to the ignition switch adjusted it until I got power in acc. and sprayed all the old chunky grease out of the key switch/tumbler

Fired right up time after time. I then let the truck sit for about 2.5 months

Today I go to crank the truck:

-No starter nosie, no turn over nothing
-Put it in neutral tried to crank, nothing
-let off the ebrake put it in park tried again nothing
***Lights dimmed when trying to start (still no starter crank)

I left the key on, and tapped the s terminal, The starter began to turn
-Hooked the S solenoid wire back up, tried to crank nothing

Turned the key on
-Jumped the S terminal the truck fired up

Turned the truck off

Turned the key, and it fired up
done this about 15 more times


Had I not jumped it, It would have never started. Jumping it seemed to fix the no start issue buy why?

anyone ever have a similar issue?

Thanks

 

How old is the battery? They can do strange things when they start to go bad. Charge it thoroughly overnight and then load test it.

 

Less than a year old. 12.6 Volts sitting unhooked overnight. It fires right up no delay. I just found it odd that after sitting It had that issue and the battery had a full charge. I am going to leave it 48 hours and see if it does it again. I did have rain get into the cab.. Maybe moisture was an issue somewhere.

 

Rain getting in the cab won't help anything that's for certain

 

I think you monkeyed with the keyswitch setting, and now it's not turning something off like it should and it's draining the battery.

Hook a test light up like the picture below to test this theory.

 

Do you have a tilt steering wheel?

 

battery stays unhooked when I turn the truck off each time.

I done the test light and it flickers... What does that mean?

 

Well traced the light to the radio.

-The radio was not installed until after this starting issue yesterday so that is ruled out.
-It is a tilt steering wheel.
-Battery is at 12.59 still

Truck still cranks has not had a no start issue

 

What are you thinking may be the problem involving the tilt? Curious because my 02 f350 5.4 is randomly at times having this strange no start issue.

 

Since the starter easily cranks when you jumper the "S" post on the relay, it's not a battery issue.
Other than the ignition switch, or the wire between the switch and the relay, the most common issue is with the Neutral Safety Switch or, if a manual transmission, the jumper wire at the connector behind the engine for an NSS.

Since yours is an auto, it's more likely the switch than the wiring, but it never hurts to inspect the wiring too.

Another slight possibility are the battery cables. Not failed, but having issues. Maybe when you're messing around with the S wire, you jiggle something else that's loose.
But worry about that later. For now check the NSS.

Paul

 

I ended up adjusting the ignition switch. The radio was pulling some power when off, it is disconnected now.

The issue with the no start is over time the starter relay builds up this fine powdery corrosion on the S terminal.

After hitting it with a wire brush or pulling it off and on a couple of times, it will start.

 

Good to hear you find the issue.
As for the radio is it one of them new fancy ones that have something like 20 preset stations it keeps in the radio?
If so that could be why the batt shows the drain it does.
Dave ----

 

Its a really old 1 din radio cd player with like 5 presets. Im thinking its just really old and needs replacing.. May be shorting out somewhere inside.

 

Sounds like a good candidate for that clear looking grease they give you in a pack at the store with sparkplug wires.

 

see this post...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...-no-start.html

Some times part #14 fails slowly, and thus as you rotate the key to start it does not push the rod far enough. So you adjust the switch a little, the the crack gets wider and it happens again.

Jim