Is it my starter?
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
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Is it my starter?
This is on a '98 F150 4WD
I turn the key to start and it does nothing. No clicking or anything. For as long as I hold the key to the start position, the dash lights stay off but as soon as I release the key back to the ACC position the dash lights come back on. All the lights look to bright. It isn't the battery, I tried to jump and no luck. I tried to bang on the starter .. and it makes a weird noise now when I try to start it.
I'm going to get a new starter tomorrow, so hopefully that's the problem. As far as I can tell it's the original starter.
Thanks.
I turn the key to start and it does nothing. No clicking or anything. For as long as I hold the key to the start position, the dash lights stay off but as soon as I release the key back to the ACC position the dash lights come back on. All the lights look to bright. It isn't the battery, I tried to jump and no luck. I tried to bang on the starter .. and it makes a weird noise now when I try to start it.
I'm going to get a new starter tomorrow, so hopefully that's the problem. As far as I can tell it's the original starter.
Thanks.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 35
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by TKAT79
This is on a '98 F150 4WD
I turn the key to start and it does nothing. No clicking or anything. For as long as I hold the key to the start position, the dash lights stay off but as soon as I release the key back to the ACC position the dash lights come back on. All the lights look to bright. It isn't the battery, I tried to jump and no luck. I tried to bang on the starter .. and it makes a weird noise now when I try to start it.
I'm going to get a new starter tomorrow, so hopefully that's the problem. As far as I can tell it's the original starter.
Thanks.
I turn the key to start and it does nothing. No clicking or anything. For as long as I hold the key to the start position, the dash lights stay off but as soon as I release the key back to the ACC position the dash lights come back on. All the lights look to bright. It isn't the battery, I tried to jump and no luck. I tried to bang on the starter .. and it makes a weird noise now when I try to start it.
I'm going to get a new starter tomorrow, so hopefully that's the problem. As far as I can tell it's the original starter.
Thanks.
If you have high resistance in the wire that goes from battery to starter and the voltage is low,it will do the same thing.
If you got 12 volts there and 12 volts at the small terminal that comes from the switch when the switch is turned to start.
Then your starter is faulty.
Or even if you do decide to remove the starter,have it tested.places like autozone of checkers will test it for free.
Good luck.
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Update ..
It was the starter .. $109 for the starter and $65 to have it put in. Considering the time it would have taken me to do the job, I think that was pretty cheap.
Thanks for the replies guys.
It was the starter .. $109 for the starter and $65 to have it put in. Considering the time it would have taken me to do the job, I think that was pretty cheap.
Thanks for the replies guys.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
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when starters fail they go high amp draw.... Pulling all the power away from lights and anything else.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: North Gower/Ottawa
It did not when mine failed. I did the same as TKAT79, tried to boost it and still had lights radio and dash lights.
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well for one you should have a starter relay, and it should click when you turn the key. If it is not clicking you can have 1 of 4 things wrong. Lack of power to the hot sides, lack of ground to the starter or the pcm or bcm, I'm not sure which switches to ground on Fords. But if the starter relay is clicking and you are not starter is not engaging, its a bad starter. YOu could try hitting the starter with a hammer while someone holds the key in the start position, if it starts with that-bad starter. I shouldnt say that your lights and things wont work at all, they will probably just dim a little more during attempted cranking. Your battery is probably at least a 600 amp battery, so if the starter is taking 200 A, there is still plenty left for lighting. Normally a starter shouldnt draw more than 200 A on any light duty truck. 125 A is a good number for a V6, A V8 probably draws around 150-175A. Bad starters draw more.
Oh, by the way, how is the battery? Have you checked to see if it is charged? Or had it tested? Maybe you have a corroded battery cable and the resistance is too high to allow enough current to flow to the starter. The lights should not go totally out when cranking, they should only dim somewhat.
Oh, by the way, how is the battery? Have you checked to see if it is charged? Or had it tested? Maybe you have a corroded battery cable and the resistance is too high to allow enough current to flow to the starter. The lights should not go totally out when cranking, they should only dim somewhat.
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Joined: Nov 2006
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Check the TSB below. Happened twice to me. My dealer billed me about $30.
Your starter is probably fine. Point the ealer to this TSB!
https://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/full...hp?tsb=01-21-8
Good Luck.
Your starter is probably fine. Point the ealer to this TSB!
https://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/full...hp?tsb=01-21-8
Good Luck.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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I have a 97 F150 4x4 with the 4.3 V8. This is probably your starter but I would like to add to the diagnosis of "locked down". I drove to my daughters school one day and parked, came back out and hit the starter. The motor turned over two times and BANG-CLANG real loud. After that nothing just the click when hitting the starter. I thought there goes the motor, but Im not one to give up easily so I kept hitting the starter. The tenth or so time, BANG-CLANG, started right up! Ran great, backed out and had no power steering! The shaft in the power steering pump shattered and locked the dang motor down. It was so badly damaged I couldnt even get my core charge! Anyway, thats my two cents worth.