HELP!!! Electrical gremlins
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 554
Likes: 13
HELP!!! Electrical gremlins
I went out to start my truck after it has been sitting for about 10 hours in a school parking lot and it fires for about 5 seconds and then quits. It just clicks one time after than and then I have to pull battery cables off and then again it clicks one time when the key is turned.
Relay on fender is new, so are battery cables. I checked ground at engine and at starter and cleaned those but it didn’t help. Tried jumping the relay with a wrench and nothing (remind me how to do correctly please)
anyway I do not have the time to keep fighting this tonight and have to leave it overnight. I would really appreciate it if anyone that has any suggestions at all to post real quick, that way in the morning I can just go through all comments and try one by one. Also if anyone has more questions I will get back to them by morning. Really need to get this thing out of the parking lot. Thanks everyone!!
Relay on fender is new, so are battery cables. I checked ground at engine and at starter and cleaned those but it didn’t help. Tried jumping the relay with a wrench and nothing (remind me how to do correctly please)
anyway I do not have the time to keep fighting this tonight and have to leave it overnight. I would really appreciate it if anyone that has any suggestions at all to post real quick, that way in the morning I can just go through all comments and try one by one. Also if anyone has more questions I will get back to them by morning. Really need to get this thing out of the parking lot. Thanks everyone!!
Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 79
Likes: 2
From: Durham
By fire do you mean the engine runs on its own for 5 seconds then quits? If yes, then likely fuel related issue. If it isn’t running at all on its own, or really in any case, check for spark. Never hurts to pop the distributor cap and see what you see.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2020
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I’ve not load tested it. But I will tomorrow. I’ll pull battery and take it to a parts store.
it’s not fuel related because after it shuts off it won’t even crank. It’s obvious an electric issue but I don’t know where. Electrical is not my friend like mechanical knowledge is, more or less.
It did this earlier this week but at one point all of a sudden just started working again. But now I’m back to where I started. Clueless. I will try jumping tomorrow. I know the battery is charged but don’t know about the load.
I believe the click I hear is the relay on the fender. Could it be starter related?
it’s not fuel related because after it shuts off it won’t even crank. It’s obvious an electric issue but I don’t know where. Electrical is not my friend like mechanical knowledge is, more or less.
It did this earlier this week but at one point all of a sudden just started working again. But now I’m back to where I started. Clueless. I will try jumping tomorrow. I know the battery is charged but don’t know about the load.
I believe the click I hear is the relay on the fender. Could it be starter related?
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,474
Likes: 974
From: Tri Cities, TN
Could it be starter related?
Could be. These Ford direct drive starters take a lot of amps to get them engaged and turning. It wouldn't hurt to take the starter with you when you take the battery to have it checked. I've seen them with the bushings so worn that the armature was rubbing on the field coils and they would still work as long as the battery was new. But at that point it's just a matter of time until it shorts out and dies.
Could be. These Ford direct drive starters take a lot of amps to get them engaged and turning. It wouldn't hurt to take the starter with you when you take the battery to have it checked. I've seen them with the bushings so worn that the armature was rubbing on the field coils and they would still work as long as the battery was new. But at that point it's just a matter of time until it shorts out and dies.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2020
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Well the Autozone couldn’t load test the battery. But I have a second starter known to be good, I may swap.
here’s where the issue is that I found:
I got it started but when I went to turn on the lights it died. And did it a second time. And same thing, when I turned lights on it died. Maybe a bad switch? I have another from a parts truck I may try. It seems like ignition is grounding out
here’s where the issue is that I found:
I got it started but when I went to turn on the lights it died. And did it a second time. And same thing, when I turned lights on it died. Maybe a bad switch? I have another from a parts truck I may try. It seems like ignition is grounding out
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Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,474
Likes: 974
From: Tri Cities, TN
Sounds like the bat is nearly dead and it isn't charging. Check the bat voltage before you start it. Get it started and check it. Should be 13.5 + running.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2020
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Intermittently yes. Which makes me think it’s some electrical connection. But it doesn’t make sense as to why it does it with the light switch.
I am going to pull both the ignition switch and light switch off and clean them and make sure that there isn’t any corrosion.
anything else I should check while I’m at it?
I am going to pull both the ignition switch and light switch off and clean them and make sure that there isn’t any corrosion.
anything else I should check while I’m at it?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 236
From: Southern California
Intermittently yes. Which makes me think it’s some electrical connection. But it doesn’t make sense as to why it does it with the light switch.
I am going to pull both the ignition switch and light switch off and clean them and make sure that there isn’t any corrosion.
anything else I should check while I’m at it?
I am going to pull both the ignition switch and light switch off and clean them and make sure that there isn’t any corrosion.
anything else I should check while I’m at it?
See A Man About A Horse
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,935
Likes: 699
From: Mariposa, Ca.
You mentioned the problem seems to occur upon turning on your headlights, I think. If you think you’re having a short to ground through the headlight switch - change it. They are cheap and easy to change. You said you have a known good one?
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More Turbo
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Well I have another. From a parts truck, don’t know if it is good. I am not home anymore, I was just back to get the truck to the house, so while I’m away I would figure I’d ask here to see who else has any suggestions.
but yes, the plan is to switch it out and see if the symptoms persist
but yes, the plan is to switch it out and see if the symptoms persist