I bought a '99 E-350 last week and now it doesn't start. Each time that I looked at it, it started and drove well the day that I bought it it drove well. This was a work van that was driven every day. I bought it and now it has sat in my driveway for a week Wendsday I came home late from work (it was dark) and I noticed that the dome light was on. Saturday was the last day I had driven it. I had not closed the drivers door enough to press the light switch. I got home from work today and decided to take the van for a drive when I turned the key to the on position to wait for the start light all of the idiot lights came on and the wait to start light and the water in fuel light both flashed along with a clicking noise commnig frum under the dash. The radio did not come on but the dome light was (that drivers door doesn't close very well). The dome light was very dim. After I figgured that the key had ben on long enough (but it was still buzzing and flashing) I turned the key off and then back on (no flashing or buzzing) and tried to start the van. I turned the key all the way and got nothing. Not-a, zippo, not even a click. I figgured that the batery was dead. So I got my batery charger out and hooked it up and let it set for a few hours. When I got home a few minutes ago and tried to start the van when I turned the key to wait the fashing and buzzing was much louder and brighter (all the idiot lights were dimming in unison with the wait light and water light), the radio came on and the dome light was brighter. It keeped flashing for quite awile and I am not patient so I tried to start it anyways but got nothing again. Then it dawned on me that I don't even know if I can charge that batery with a regular batery charger - I've never delt with batery or starting problems with a diesel befor.

So what do I need to do to get this van started.

Also how do I find out if I have a block warmer or not and where would I find a cord.

 

John, I think your batteries are dead. If you got buzzing under the dash, its the batteries that are not charged. I would get 2 new battteries and be done with that.

I don't know where the cord is on a E model.

 

Crawl under the engine (driver's side) and look slightly above the oil filter on the engine block.. You should have a wire coming out of the block in this location.. If you do, just follow the cord to the plug.

 

Well I left the charger on all night and the truck started just fine this morning. It has started about three or four times for me today. I only see one battery is there another one hiding somewhere or do the E models only have one battery?
Also, I found the plug when I was putting the new plates on today, It is in the front bumper cowling.
Thank you for the help. I can tell that this diesel will be a new learning curve for me.

 

there are 2 batteries...the other one is on the passengers side frame rail. or in that general location.

 

Thank you!

I know that this will open up a big can of wormsbut where is the best place to get batteries? Why?

 

I went to the Ford dealer yesterday and got a set of Motorcrafts for my wife's truck. The factory batteries lasted longer than anything else I've tried in my truck, so I figured I'd go back with them.

They come with a 3 year replacement and 100 month pro-rated warranty.

 

Costco
the are reasonably priced and you can return them with out any hassel if they ever fail.

 

I got 8 years out of my motorcraft original batteries... Not bad

 

i use interstate blems they work fine just maybe have a ding or 2 i gettem for 50 bux