I am a newbie and have tried to look up some info on the problem I am having and just didn't find it; so I am sorry if this is covered somewhere I didn't see. I have a 2002 F-250 Super Duty XLT 4x4 with the 5.4 in it. My wife went out this morning to take your daughter to school got in the truck and it would not start, she said the dash was acting fuuny. I went and looked at it I opened the door and the door ajar with the key in the ignition was sounding but was distorded, attempted to start the truck no starter engage or even a click the dash lit some lights but very dim gauges acted very strange also moving and stoping where ever they pleased. The truck was run 2 days ago, sat all day yestersay and the no start, strange dash happened this morning. The outside temp was 20*F this morning not sure how much if any colder it was last night. Only other things added to the truck are a remote start/alarm with power door locks and a power tail gate release. I pulled the fuses for the remote start/alarm and pulled the neg battery cable re attached it after a minute and still no start, just the dash acting funny and making strange noises. No electrical things seem to be working except for the under hood light which seems to operate and light like normal. Sorry for the length of this, I bought this truck new and NEVER had a problem untill today. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Have you washed the truck or had a bad rain, snow in your area?
Sounds like a water intrusion somwhere.
How old is the battery?Chk voltage at it
Smell anything burnt or plasticky smell?
Chk all fuses
Even the relays under the hood on driverside.
Rich

 

We've had some snow but its been below freezing for almost a week now. The battery is 3 years old but still tests good using a 130amp load test. Did not smell anything burnt. I forgot about the under hood relays I will have to check them out. Waiting for my buddy to get back form work to put it in his garage to check thing over better where it is warmer; 24*F is colder than I like to be unless it has to be. Thanks for the quick reply Rich.

 

If you need some question answered on wiring schematics for the 02 ,I have them.
Also chk the connection that goes through the firewall (harness) maybe its loose.
Theirs a 5/16 bolt that goes through the center ,I believe.
Rich

 

That really does just sound like a bad battery. A 130 amp load test? What's the voltage read?

 

Thanks again Rich, If i need the wiring schematic help I will be looking you up for sure. Looks like probably tomorrow I will be able to get into it and look and test things out. Thanks again
Jerry

 

Battery voltage drops to 11.2 volts and stays there untill test is done.

 

Are you saying that the load tester is dropping the battery's voltage? From what to 11.2? What kind of load tester are you using?

 

Battery start voltage is 12.8 and then during the test drops to 11.2 using a resistive load test. To make sure its not the battery I tried the one out of my car which is newer still has the same problems.

 

If you turned the key to the first notch did everything work okay as far as accessories?
radio, dash lights? Or still messed up ?
I think your battery is okay, But ground connections or stater connections could be a problem.My 02 gets alot of corrosion on the starter connection.I clean it just before winter every yr. Never seen a dash do crazy things though.
Rich

 

Darn! I was really hoping for the easy solution. As I suspect you were. Hopefully once you get the truck in the garage and warmed up it will act normal. Having lived in Alaska for a few years, I know the cold can wreak havoc on things. Hopefully that's all it is.

 

No at first notch nothing happens same silly stuff Im sure it is a wiring issue somewhere just not sure where to look first. Thanks for all the help coming in.
Jerry

 

Yeah I was hoping for the easy fix too but as the story of my life nothing has an easy fix. lol I have put a bathroom heater in the cab to warm things up a little until my buddy gets home. Well if anything it solved the problem with snow on the cab portion of the truck but thats about all. Thanks for the help.
Jerry

 

I'd check all of the grounds, specifically under the dash. I had a loose ground under there and, like you said, "things acted funny". Imagine my surprise to have the drivers side window go down by itself, in the pouring rain, in the middle of the night and not want to go back up. All my dashlights went on and off and the door locks kept locking and unlocking. I was driving through Baltimore and was not going to leave it there so I continued to my parents and then to the local Ford dealership the next morning. 2 hours wait and it was as good as new. Cost me $145. That service department is pretty good about emergency walk ins.

For my 2 cents, it's worth it to pay the high dealership bills when it comes to electrical problems.

 

by chance did you try jumping to see if it starts? you could possibly have a sulfated battery, esp. since it's 3 years old and you have cold weather.
a sulfated battery will test ok voltage wise but not amp wise. if it starts when jumped you know your problem.
you have nothing with the key on .try jumping that big boy.before going crazy.