I'm stuck. My 2000 7.3 PSD won't start. Turn the key, hear a few relays click and nothing.

No diag codes without the key in the ignition, I get P0603 & P1000 when the key is in the ignition (I hear that these are common when the battery has been disconnected recently) which I did on Sunday when I replaced them both.

This all started about 2 weeks ago. I was at a Boy Scout campout and the truck wouldn't start after sitting idle for 2 days (I left the trailer plugged in, so I thought that I just had a short there & it drained the battery). I jumped it, and drove home. A couple of days later, it wouldn't start again, so again, so I jumped it. Sunday, I went to the car wash, washed the trailer, and got back in the truck. No starty... this time it was different, it just clicked, where the previous events, it just wouldn't turn the engine enough to for it to fire.

I didn't realize that at the time. I had no success jumping, so I drove off with the wife to get batteries. When I came back, I dropped the lady off at the truck, & ran home to get some tools. She started it right away. I replaced the batteries after we got home & I've been driving all week without issue.

Today, I go out to leave work and the truck just clicks a couple of relays when I turn the key... no turning what soever. Voltmeter says ~15 volts on the dash & no error lights.

Any advice would greatly appreciated...

 

Also, I replaced CPS about 3 weeks ago.

 

If it is just clicking and you know for a fact that the batteries are good, then I would suspect the starter solenoid or even the starter itself.

Parts catalog states that you gotta replace the starter as an assembly but I bet you can get just the solenoid. Have you asked this in the 7.3PSD forum? Lots of experts over there.

 

BTW, click on the words "parts catalog" for the schematic.

 

If it started with a jump then the starter is fine. You may have a bad voltage regulator or alternator. Or wiring problem in the charging system. Sounds like your just draining your batteries and the starter doesnt have the power to spin the motor. You may see good voltage, but what happens when you try to start it? Does it fall and slowly creep back up?

If it was a bad starter/solenoid i doubt it would start with a jump, but it is a ford, ive seen crazier stuff before!

Not sure how mechanical you are, but my suggestion would be to pull the alternator and go have it tested first. Most parts stores do this for free. Id call ahead to make sure someone that knows how to use the machine is working though. Hopefully its not an intermittent problem cause those are no fun to diagnose!

 

Well, went back by the office on the way to the parts store, it started right up, so I brought it back home (close to the tools). I've got a solenoid now, so I'll swap it tomorrow night.

Weird

I'm just grateful that I bought another car last weekend... supposed to be for the kid, but hey, he who buys, owns the keys.

 

Might consider putting new battery cables on it. Those things can cause some wierd symptoms.


Ron

 

Look over connection from the battery cable down to the starter, jiggle/fiddle/wiggle them. See if anything seems loose orr appears to need attention. Also you should have a thin wire going to the starter solenoid, make sure thats not tearing off the connector or loose or corroded or anything funny liek that. Thats what tells the starter its time to start the motor.

 

I was looking at those earlier & figured I'd check those tomorrow too. Last time I swapped a starter on my old Sub, I ended up replacing the it from the relay back & relay to the battery b/c of old cables... 17 years old .

Thanks,
Larry

 

Well, so far so good. I replaced the solenoid & I haven't been stranded yet...

thanks for the advice guys!

 

I once had a bad battery that would do this to me. Had an internal crack, sometimes it wouldn't even allow the lights to come on (let alone crank the engine) other times it acted totally normal. Took me 4 months to figure it out.

 

Of course, I spoke too soon. I took my wife out for dinner that evening and when we came out, all I got was the wonderful "click" sound. Frustrated, we took a walk up the street & wandered around Wal-mart for a bit. Bought some movies out of the $5 movie bin, and headed back.

Of course, after praying, the truck just "clicked" again. Leaning back with one of those deep sighs, I had a eureka moment. I remembered that my old Nissan Sentra did this to me once, and I solved it by tapping the starter relay. So I did it. I had my wife turn the key while I tapped and it scared me silly when it kicked over.

Considering the tapping, I'm pretty confident that the relay was the culprit all along now.

So I'm back to its not acting up again.

 

Well, it looks to be the end of this saga. I've replaced the starter solenoid (2x - my son stripped the relay post & I had to cut it off), the relay which was a confirmed bad, and finally the altenator... the test at O'Reilly's was 5amps supply at 11.9 volts... toast.

On the flip side, I have to give Ford some credit, I've never changed an altenator so fast in my life. 3 bolts, a 1/2 breaker bar for the belt, and you're in business.

Thanks to all for your advice. I have always said before I bought my X and was a lurker, and now as a proud owner, this forum rocks!

Thanks guys!
Larry