1998 F150 starting problem
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2004
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1998 F150 starting problem
I haven't started my truck in about a week. I went out to start it two nights ago and when I turn the key all I get is a clunk sound. almost as if the battery is dead. However the gauge shows the battery fully charged so I hooked up some jumper cables just to check and still nothing would happen. I'm able to push start it but when I try to start it on it's own nothing happens. I'm not sure if there is a fuse I should be checking for the starter or if it's the starter itself. Someone told me to also check the starter relay. How would I check this and how would I determine if it's the starter or the starter relay or the ignition itself? Any tips/tricks would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
Check the cables on the starter. The lug on the cable can corrode and fall off.
If that's ok then you may need a new starter. If you have a test light or voltmeter you can check for power at the starter. There should be 12V at both terminals when you have the key in the start position with the clutch pushed.
If that's ok then you may need a new starter. If you have a test light or voltmeter you can check for power at the starter. There should be 12V at both terminals when you have the key in the start position with the clutch pushed.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 52
From: Lawton, Oklahoma
Since you get a clunk noise check to see if the lights dim when you turn the key. That should tell you the starter is either attempting to crank or not. If they dim the starter is drawing the circuit and not spinning. If it doesnt dim then there is an open circuit likely within the starter relay. It is switching but not connecting the other side of the relay to the starter.
Early F150 models like this were notorious for bad starter relays and starters. A lot of them had a loose nut on the relay as well. Hopefully it will be the inexpensive and easy to replace relay.
Early F150 models like this were notorious for bad starter relays and starters. A lot of them had a loose nut on the relay as well. Hopefully it will be the inexpensive and easy to replace relay.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 87
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From: Ohio
I'd say it's probably your starter. Mine acted perfectly normal, then all of a sudden it quit. Took it to NAPA to test it, and it shorted the test bench out!
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I'm guessing it must be the starter because one of the first things I did was lay underneath the truck and tap the starter with a hammer while my wife turned the key to start it. The wires coming in to the starter sparked but never did the starter even try to engage. I was really just hoping there was an easy way to test this thing without pulling it out. I'm just being lazy right now because we've had nothing but rain here for the past two weeks and my dirt driveway is pretty much a mud bog right now. So I was trying to find some easy way to determine if it's the starter or not without pulling the starter out. I guess it's time to suck it up and roll around in the mud. Thanks to all that responded
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