Hi,

I have a 02 F150 SC with a 5.4L. I have not had any problems with it in the past and I am a little surprised by this problem.

I had just started the truck and went about 2 blocks to the post office and shut it off. 5 minutes later when I came back out it started for 1 or 2 seconds and quit. I restarted it and the same thing happened. It started right off each time and did not run rough....it just would quit after a couple of seconds.

After I did this a couple of more times it finally stopped starting all together. I notice that when I have the key on not all the normal lights are on in the cluster...for instance I notice that the odometer does not display the mileage with the key on.

Is this a problem with the PATS system? or is it a bad conection? I did just install a plow with an electric winch a couple of days ago. Normally other bad connections that I have had make a clicking noise when turning over. It is turning over very easily right now. Is there a fuse that may have blown?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

I just went through almost this same thing on a 2000 F150 w/4.2 v6. I think the electrics should be almost the same. Raise the hood and open the under hood fuse panel. There are two relays (small black boxes) toward the front on the box. With the ignition switch on peck on the relay closest to the engine, passenger side of the box. When mine went bad you could peck it with a screwdriver handle and you could hear the fuel pump come on and the odometer would go back to normal. After that it would run fine until I stopped again. Relays are about $8.00 each at the dealer. Dealer only part also I think. Look for my post on it. There’s a lot more info there. Hope this helps!!

 

Thanks...I will take a look.

 

I tried tapping the relays and that did not turn it on. I am sure that the cluster is losing power for some reason because when it does work it sweeps and then all the lights come on and I can start the truck.

It seems that this happening more and more frequently. I thought that this could be a battery thing but I checked the battery when I had the problem last night and it still read 12.49V.

Do clusters go bad? Is there a bad conections somewhere?

 

Sounds like a PCM relay to me. Ranger tried to help you figure that out. Maybe you should just swap the two relays around and see if that changes anything.

 

I'll stop at the parts store tonight and get a couple of relays...I just not sure which ones they are.

Thanks...
Hartwa

 

hartwa if I understand your guages are sweeping at start up? If this is the case its a sure sign the battery is shot. It can still read good but put it under load and poof nothing.

 

Thanks for the help....

When they sweep the truck starts. Sometimes even with the key on not all the lights are lit up on the cluster and then the truck does not start. Other times the cluster is normal and the truck starts or the cluster sweeps with the key on and then starts.

I understand what you are saying but it is not just the load from the cranking that causes the cluster to sweep...sometimes it sweeps before I crank...when I first turn the key on before I crank. You know what I mean??

Could this still be the battery? I will check the ago if it when I get home.

 

How about this. Put your multimeter on the battery and check the voltage under load(while you start) and see what it is. Anything under 9.6V is bad.....

 

I forgot to ask. What if anything is the theft light doing while the ign is turned on? Mine would flash rapidly. If you wait a while it should start flashing a code. Mine was 16. Thats how Homer knew it was the relays. I cant remember if my guages swept or not. Sorry I can't be more help!

 

No I just knew it was likely the relay due to the dashes in the odometer and the theft light flashing. Classic symtoms of an inoperative power relay to the PCM.

 

My odometer does not light up at all when the problem happens. The theft light just blinks like normal. I checked the Volts on the battery during cranking...it just dropped to 11.12 V.

I think that the cluster is just bad or something...Is this common with Ford?

 

Not that I know of...

 

Its a little freaky the way it is acting. Guage sweep is a common action due to low voltage. Like others said it could be related to a bad cell in the battery. Could also be related to water intrusion into the fuse box. Or something that will require hands on to see exactly where the fault exists.

 

Ranger354 & Homerwinzlow, Thanks for the help on this thread. I just had the same problem with my '02 F-150 supercrew and had no idea where to start. I googled the problem and it sent me to this thread. I hope you still get notified on this even though the thread is old.

Once again Thanks