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Feb 15, 2007 | 01:39 PM

#16

Tdvjensen

Senior User

Joined: Apr 2003

Posts: 448

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From: Edmonton, AB Canada

the machines they use to test the battery are so dummy proof a 10 year old could figure it out. I still blame starter since there is only one click. Put a voltmter on the battery, then on the wire side of the battery. If the voltage doesnt change then the connections at the battery are good. Try starting the truck with the voltmeter on there and see how much voltage drop there is when you try and start the truck. if you have more than about 4 volts, the starter is drawing too much voltage and is most likely the problem.

Feb 15, 2007 | 02:01 PM

#17

StrongRepublican

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Joined: Feb 2007

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I just thought of this as well; I have a remote start sytem installed on my truck. Could it be possible that a ground or something of that nature has come loose and caused this problem? I'll check all the wires and everything, and hopefully firgure this mess out.

Feb 16, 2007 | 03:37 AM

#18

dudeintruck

Freshman User

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 32

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Throw the battery from your buddy's car into it and try it. There is a click because you only have enough power to activate the solenoid switch. All your lights going out and the click is symptomatic of a bad battery that doesn't have enough amperage to operate the starter motor. Volts don't mean crap and the chick probably didn't do a proper load test on the battery. (Even a ten year old dummy would want to sell you a battery...that should tell you something!)
Jumper cables have too much of an amperage drop across their length so it doesn't work.

Feb 16, 2007 | 08:29 AM

#19

Katfish1989

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Joined: Aug 2004

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bad connection somewhere, definitely not the alternator.

Feb 16, 2007 | 08:57 AM

#20

Ford Breakdown

Tuned

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 265

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From: Cleveland

Recently went through a go round with my starter. The problem was intermittent, sometimes it clicked, sometimes it started. At first the starter tested ok but the problem continued off and on. Eventually the starter tested bad and they replaced it under warranty.

Feb 18, 2007 | 09:07 PM

#21

StrongRepublican

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Well, I finally had the time to work on the truck today, but I'm not at all pleased with the results. I went under the truck to remove the starter in order to have it tested, when to my horror, I found the broken ears of what was once a starter. At some point in my last trip, the starter had broken off and that's that. I went out and bought a new starter, but when I started installing it I noticed a bit of trans fluid on my bell housing. Then I saw it: a four inch crack on the bell housing beginning just under the starter and continuing up. This is a PROBLEM. Tomorrow I'll be calling AAMCO having the truck towed. THey rebuilt the tranny in Dec and this had damn well better be under warrenty. They either were incompatent enough to miss such a large crack, or they were just **** poor workers and torqued something completely wrong. What a bad situation.

Feb 19, 2007 | 02:15 PM

#22

dudeintruck

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Joined: Feb 2007

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Hmmph...I guess it wasn't the battery afterall.

Feb 19, 2007 | 02:20 PM

#23

92F150Flare

Elder User

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 829

Likes: 1

From: Goose Creek SC

just had the click last week......turned out to be the lead on the starter......needed crimping. No problems since but if I do have .....that wire will be replaced
Sure hope yours is a wire.....lots cheaper.......good luck

Bob