4.9L No Start

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Nov 18, 2017 | 05:06 PM

evan_nugget

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Mar 2017

Posts: 1,370

Likes: 138

From: Manassas, VA

4.9L No Start

Hey all. I've searched the forum and found a bunch of people with the same problem but they are missing a critical symptom that my truck has. Just today I tried to start my '96 F-150 (4.9, 5 spd) and it will make one distinct CLICK and then nothing! But here's where it gets weird. After the click, the truck has NO ELECTRICAL POWER. No dash lights, no fuel pump, no cab lights, no power. By wiggling the negative battery cable connections to the battery I can restore electrical power (dash lights, fuel pump, dome light) but when I try to crank it over the same thing happens. In the past, I have been able to wiggle the negative battery connection and get the truck to start, but this time it isn't working. The truck does have a new battery, starter solenoid, and starter put on BEFORE these symptoms started.

Anyone who can give me some leads to try, I'd be very grateful. Will be checking ground straps after posting this, but I haven't run across anyone with the no start no electrical power issue that I have.

Thanks all, Evan

Nov 18, 2017 | 05:32 PM

stephandrusty

Junior User

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 55

Likes: 1

From: norfolk, va.

Clean your battery connections . Check and clean ground connections. Replace battery cables . Try that for a start. Good luck.

Nov 18, 2017 | 05:36 PM

88n94

Cargo Master

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 3,118

Likes: 149

From: South Dakota

Another one of these. Make sure the connections on the battery posts are CLEAN and TIGHT. Remove the cables from the battery posts and clean the inside of the cables where they go on the battery posts and also clean the outsides of the battery posts. Then make sure they tighten up properly.

If that doesn't solve your problem look to the other battery cable connections,cleaning them and make sure they tighten properly.

Nov 18, 2017 | 10:37 PM

vjsimone

Cargo Master

Joined: Jun 2013

Posts: 3,182

Likes: 15

From: Somewhere n North America

Quote:

Originally Posted by evan_nugget

By wiggling the negative battery cable connections to the battery I can restore electrical power

Like stephandrusty states, replace the Neg Batt cable to start with.....

Nov 19, 2017 | 01:38 PM

evan_nugget

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Mar 2017

Posts: 1,370

Likes: 138

From: Manassas, VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephandrusty

Clean your battery connections . Check and clean ground connections. Replace battery cables . Try that for a start. Good luck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88n94

Quote:

Originally Posted by vjsimone

Like stephandrusty states, replace the Neg Batt cable to start with.....

Thanks for the help all! I feel a little stupid - it was just the battery cable ends, specifically the positive terminal end. I cleaned them up and replaced the clamp style with some solder on terminals and it starts great. In my defense, this is my first time working with vehicle electrical systems, Im slowly learning!