1997 Ford F150, 4.6L V8...240,000 Miles

Ok,
Last night some friends and I went out for the usual play in the mud type deal for a little while on a Friday night. 2 F150's running together. Alrighty. Anyway. We were just about to end the play and head back towards the house and hang out there for a little while. Well my riding buddy decided that he wanted to hit this hole one more time before we headed out. He done his thing. Came out the other side. His truck Died. So I pulled up over there next to him and decided to just cut my truck off and save some gas while we worked on his. (Keep in mind my truck was running fine NO problems at all) He ended up killing his battery trying to get it started so I went to jump in mine and It just clicked. Head lights came on. Everything was working as it was suppose to. But no start? We finally go his started up (with the thanks of some random strangers) and we thought maybe we could jump mine off. Tried several times didnt work. 2 hours later still nothing. I looked over all the Fuses in the fuse box under the hood and the dash. Nothing was blown. Tried beater the starter a little bit LOL. Eventually We just chained the 2 trucks together and He pulled me back to the house. Very very slowly. LOL Today I got out and started looking around. The solenoid was clicking really loud so I figure it had went bad. Went and bought a new one, installed, And still nothing. I also took the battery and had it tested just to check. They said it was good. It still just clicks. As crazy as this sound. If you turn the key and click it multiple times the door locks throw a fit. They will lock and unlock and then its fine until you click 10 more times or so.

I also cleaned the connections for the battery terminals to see if that would help.

Here are some of the things that I have herd that may fix this problem.

Someone told me that there is some sort of big fuse mounted to the firewall. Its behind a little black cover I think. The wires come off of the solenoid and run into this fuse. I have no clue.. Its something someone mentioned. Anyone know anything about that?

Someone else mention that the starter may be locked up.. I dont think so. Its not giving me any reason to believe that. I honestly dont think any power is getting down to it.

Connections on the Starter?

This one is the worse. but I dont believe this is it either.
The computer system being fried.

Keep in mind. Everything is getting power. Radio, Headlights. Everything inside and out is functioning other than the truck not starting.
So I dont believe that is it. I think if the computer was messed up nothing would work OR it would be something more noticable.

Thats all I have herd. If anyone knows anything more. OR have any suggestions I would LOVE to hear them.

I do want to throw a reminder in here though. The truck was running FINE until I cut it off. I mean dreamy fine.

 

It might be the solonoid on the starter. The one in my truck went bad, so i swapped it out with one from another starter i had.

 

Hook up a simple test light to the heavy lug on the starter & ground, then turn key to confirm if "power is getting down to it" or not.

The starter circuit has virtually nothing to do with "the computer".

 

Thats what I thought too..
I have messed around with alot of thing on my truck but this is something that I have no clue where im going or getting into

 

Connections on the starter is exactly where to look.

The starter relay(on the fire wall near the battery) supplies power to the starter solenoid, which is on the starter itself. The starter has battery power to it directly that is engaged by the solenoid to turn the motor on and start the engine.

So, inspect the connections at the starter. The big cable will have voltage all the time. Use a voltmeter at the starter (little wire) to see if you have 12 volts when the ignition switch is turned to start. Both wires should have voltage when the key is in the start position. By the way, a voltmeter is better to use than a test light. Good luck!