Good evening all. I've had an ongoing issue with my trucks and I've narrowed it down to the starter: Replaced the factory starter, and the truck started once. Replaced the new starter today, and the truck started up on the first turn; shut it off, closed it up and started it up again. I let it run at that point and then drove it around the block and pulled it into the driveway. After a few minutes, I got back in and it wouldn't start. There is voltage everywhere it should be, and the solenoid is working, the starter just seems to be shot, again. My friend thinks there is some problem causing the starter to continue running and burn out. How would I track this problem down and remedy it? Right now the plan is to get another starter, but I don't want it to be sacrificial... The truck is a 2000 F150 with the 5.4 engine.

Thanks!

 

 

The first time I went with a cheap one I found on Amazon just to help diagnose the problem. Today I picked up a Duralast at Autozone. I am thinking it isn't the starter as I should be able to get more than one or two starts out of it.

 

Does the starter click when trying to crank? Check your grounds and make sure they are free of corrosion. Theres other things like, a faulty key switch, a bad adjusted transmission linkage, and loose bolts on the shifter mechanism in the steering column.

 

The starter does not click, just the solenoid. The ground looked OK, but I will double check tomorrow. My friend mentioned it might be a faulty key switch, but his theory is it is keeping the starter motor engaged and it is burning out. Does that make sense?

How would the transmission linkage or loose bolts on the shifter mechanism impact the starter? Where would I start troubleshooting that?

 

I have been mentioning the solenoid - I am referring to to the starter relay on the firewall, not the one in the starter motor itself. I hope I didn't further confuse things.

 

You may have voltage but no amperage. Make sure your battery cables and clamps are good.

 

I replaced the battery yesterday as well - it was overdue. When I did that, I looked those components over, but I will give them a more thorough inspection today.

Thanks.

 

 

I spent the afternoon tinkering and searching. found a short between two cables within some factory wire loom. All fixed for now. Hopefully that was the only problem.

Thanks everyone for the help: it is very much appreciated!

 

 

Thanks Chad!

That's great info. Hopefully I won't have to deal with this again, but I'm sure it will come up at some point and I know exactly where to look now.