E99 Intermittent No Crank

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 12, 2019 | 03:43 PM

neilg

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Aug 2016

Posts: 37

Likes: 0

E99 Intermittent No Crank

My E99 has refused to crank over a few times this winter for some reason. The dash lights up normally, wait to start is fine, etc except that nothing happens when you turn the key to start it. No clicks or any noise from the starter at all. After many (10+) key off/ key start sequences it will eventually start like nothing happened. Both batteries were replaced in the fall.

I originally thought it was my immobilizer screwing up in the cold but I think I ruled it out last night when the truck refused to crank. I probably tried 15 to 20 times and then I tried switching the ignition to ACC first and then starting. Then truck then cranked over and started. I've done some searching and there's a lot of things to check between the solenoid and the key, is there a good sequence of steps to troubleshoot this? At this point I'm assuming that either the solenoid is bad or I have an electrical issue. I think the biggest problem will be trying to reproduce the problem since it only seems to happen once every few weeks when the truck is warm.

Thanks!

Mar 12, 2019 | 04:12 PM

Walleye Hunter

Hotshot

Joined: Mar 2014

Posts: 10,750

Likes: 1,065

From: Douglassville, PA

Automatic transmission? Did you try manipulating the shift selector? Try it in neutral?

Mar 12, 2019 | 04:42 PM

neilg

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Aug 2016

Posts: 37

Likes: 0

Yes, automatic transmission. I didn't try manipulating the shift selector but I will try and see if jiggling it a bit will repeat the no crank. Is the safety switch in the transmission or in the steering column?

Mar 12, 2019 | 08:33 PM

Walleye Hunter

Hotshot

Joined: Mar 2014

Posts: 10,750

Likes: 1,065

From: Douglassville, PA

It's on the left side of the transmission.

Mar 13, 2019 | 08:28 AM

Firefighter 1406

Lead Driver

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 5,372

Likes: 108

From: Northern Indiana

Also there are 2 torx bolts on the back of the column that have to do with the shifter as well. If those get loose which they are know to do it will cause issues too. Put you head under there around the brake pedal and look up. They gold colored torx screws.

Mar 13, 2019 | 11:55 AM

neilg

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Aug 2016

Posts: 37

Likes: 0

Thanks for the pointers, I will crawl under the dash and check that out.

Mar 19, 2019 | 11:12 AM

neilg

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Aug 2016

Posts: 37

Likes: 0

I found gold colored torx bolts in a couple of spots.

I found two on the bottom of the steering column on either side of a beige box (ignition switch?) after taking off the lower dash panel. They seemed loose so I snugged them up. Found a couple more above the brake pedal that moved the shift lever when I tried to tighten them. There were already tight though.

I don't that fixed it so I will keep investigating.

Mar 25, 2019 | 02:46 PM

neilg

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Aug 2016

Posts: 37

Likes: 0

Yup, definitely not fixed. Today it wouldn't crank in neutral or park and then it was magically fine again. Going to start checking the electrical connections next as suggested by BillyBob.

Mar 26, 2019 | 04:10 PM

#10

Hussler

Postmaster

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 4,195

Likes: 6

From: Medford Oregon

The trigger wire for the starter relay on the passenger fender is the push on connecting (like a miniature spark plug plug) type connector. Check that connection out ...

Apr 1, 2019 | 05:32 PM

#11

neilg

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Aug 2016

Posts: 37

Likes: 0

Spent more time looking at the truck over the weekend. Fixed 2 loose battery connections. Also disassembled and cleaned the solenoid connections the best I could, but the problem is still there. It's happening several times a week now instead of once every few weeks.

Apr 17, 2019 | 03:21 PM

#12

neilg

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Aug 2016

Posts: 37

Likes: 0

Another update...

I got a new solenoid to try but the no crank happened in the driveway before I had replaced it. Turns out the solenoid wasn't getting the starter signal which made me suspect the aftermarket immobilizer. I tore the dash apart to find the crappy wiring job and waited a couple more weeks until it died in a convenient place so I could probe it some more. The ignition switch starter signal into the immobilizer was fine but the immobilizer starter output wasn't working. I then confirmed it by temporarily bypassing the immobilizer and starting the truck.

Once I bypass the immobilizer properly I will need to decide if I want to replace the faulty relay in the immobilizer or just put a new one in... Either way I will need something to keep it where I park it.