Notices
1997 - 2003 F150 1997-2003 F150, 1997-1999 F250LD, 7700 & 2004 F150 Heritage
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Auxito

Way to Weird!!!! (Electrical)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 12, 2005 | 09:16 AM
  #1  
cbb's Avatar
cbb
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Way to Weird!!!! (Electrical)

Here is one for you...........

97 F150. Came home last night, no problems. Truck ran fine, no indication of any problems. Go out this morning, truck wont start, and relays going crazy! Disconnect the battery for a few minutes, and things seem fine........until I put the key in to try to start it. It would go "click" and the relays would go crazy and again. Pull the battery again, wait a few minutes and things seem normal. Just for fun, put the key in, door open and the chimes come on, (normal). Rotate the key to Accs. position, everything again sounds and appears normal. rotate the key to off, remove it and everything is off. (again normal) Turn the key to on, and the panel lights up, (normal). Rotate to start, hear "click", and the relays go crazy again.

Any ideas on this one????????? BTW it is a bright sunny day, no rain in the past few so I don't suspect a GEM problem. But who knows.
 
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2005 | 10:52 AM
  #2  
horseman1's Avatar
horseman1
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: NORTH MS
Turn the light on and see if they shine bright with engine off, if they don't your battery is dead or dying. When the voltage gets low the relays will chatter and click.
 
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2005 | 10:59 AM
  #3  
solidpwder's Avatar
solidpwder
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Jackson
horseman1 is right. The battery is dead and needs to be replace make sure you don't leave your keys in the truck because most on the time when you relays go crazy your doors will lock.
 
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2005 | 11:39 AM
  #4  
cbb's Avatar
cbb
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Angry update

Nope. Not the battery. Have 14.5 at the posts. Have also put the battery in another vehicle, Getting full volts and amps.

Here is another piece of info....... The entire electrical now appears dead. Has chacked all the fuses and relays. If I disconnect the battery for 5 to 10 min. then hook it back up, as long as I do not put the key in the ignition switch the dome lights come on with the door open. As soon as the key is put in the relays start clicking and the dome light goes off, then abolutly nothing.
 
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2005 | 12:19 PM
  #5  
cbb's Avatar
cbb
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Red face Found the %$((@#* problem!!!!

Found the problem. Not the battery, but a bad ground between the battery post and the main grounding point on the firewall.

Thanks for the help. Sometimes it helps just hearing about other possible alternatives.
 
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2005 | 06:01 PM
  #6  
horseman1's Avatar
horseman1
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: NORTH MS
Was it not tight or was the inside copper corroded? The inside strands can cause a major Pain.
 
Reply
Old Mar 13, 2005 | 08:17 AM
  #7  
Beast12's Avatar
Beast12
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 14,413
Likes: 3
From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
I was reading this problem just now and was going to suggest a ground cable! I had the exact problem on my 85 F-150. Funny how problems can be the same in different trucks years apart. Glad you got it fixed!

-Matt
 
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2005 | 07:36 PM
  #8  
cbb's Avatar
cbb
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Smile Resolution

It was the inside copper. No external clues as to the corrosion. It always helps to have a good meter!!!!
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-5

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-9

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Mar 31, 2005 | 09:16 PM
  #9  
packratF350's Avatar
packratF350
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
I just bought a '74 f150. the guy told me the engine was toast, but I got it home (on the trailer) and had it running before I took it off the trailer! the negative battery terminal was (U guessed it) corroded inside! ! replaced cable and viola! running truck!
now to replace the tranny.........(big sigh) guess it wasn't the perfect truck! lol
 
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2005 | 11:52 PM
  #10  
Perfection's Avatar
Perfection
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
i got a question for ya, my pickup's check engine light came on tonight on way to friends, got there pulled of neg battery cable and let it sit. Put it back on start back up and let run for 10-15 mins and everything is fine no light...fluid's are all good nothing wrong from that angle....so why would it come on, then fix when i reset it? is this common?
 
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2005 | 05:42 AM
  #11  
Beast12's Avatar
Beast12
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 14,413
Likes: 3
From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
When you reset the computer it clears the code. It will not come back until you have the problem again. You need to get your codes read. Buy a code reader. Or wait until the light comes back on and AutoZone will read them for free.

-Matt
 
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2005 | 06:34 AM
  #12  
projectSHO89's Avatar
projectSHO89
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,762
Likes: 1,079
From: St Louis
Originally Posted by Perfection
i got a question for ya, my pickup's check engine light came on tonight on way to friends, got there pulled of neg battery cable and let it sit. Put it back on start back up and let run for 10-15 mins and everything is fine no light...fluid's are all good nothing wrong from that angle....so why would it come on, then fix when i reset it? is this common?

Drive it for two "driving cycles". If the fault that caused the orignal CEL is still there, it will come on by this time.

Steve
 
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2005 | 12:32 AM
  #13  
Perfection's Avatar
Perfection
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
was driving today and about 35 miles into driving it came on again, but strangely 2-3 miles later it went off, and back on about another mile later, then flickered for a few seconds, and now its on again. its a yellow, which ford friend says is not a big deal, he thinks it may just be a sensor trying to go bad on me?
 
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2005 | 08:20 AM
  #14  
Beast12's Avatar
Beast12
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 14,413
Likes: 3
From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Best thing to do is to get the codes scanned. That will tell you exactly what it is.

-Matt
 
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2005 | 01:39 AM
  #15  
Perfection's Avatar
Perfection
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
ok, that makes sense... but why is it that it won't come on again right after i reset the truck, takes 30-40 miles before it decides to?
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:30 PM.

story-0
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-4
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-8
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE