I have a 2001 f250 V10 went to start this morning and all I get is a click. Checked battery it is charged tried to jump still all I get is a click. radio and everything else seems to come on. Any ideas

 

You check the starter cables? What about the ground cables?

 

I checked cables all seem fine also checked relays and can hear them click when key is turned.

 

Sounds like a starter problem..... Time to replace or rebuild?

 

If your starter solenoid is on the passenger fender, try and jump across it with an old screwdriver or heavy wire. Could just be the solenoid....

 

I have a '99' that does this, the problem could be the key ignition. Try leaving the key turned on, next to the battery on the side wall you will see that small round thing that has two connection on top, pull the one off that towards the cab and use a jumper wire from that one to the possitive on the battery if it starts it is your key ignition. just reconnect the wire you pulled off. I have to do this every once in awhile.

 

Drove 350 miles to the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, PA. Pull up to the front of the hotel turned my truck off and headed inside to check in. Came back out hopped back in the truck, tried to start it and nothing but a click. Same problem as trippinbillies. So I check all the fuses and they're all fine. I forgot to throw any tools in the truck so I couldn't really do too much troubleshooting. A couple of the bellhops help me push it into a parking spot nearby.

This morning I go out and try it just for the fun of it and same thing, nothing but a click. I barrowed a couple tools from the hotel and did as scraprat suggested. When I removed the wire and jump it to the positive terminal I got nothing.

Feeling defeated I hooked the wire back up and was prepared to call a tow truck. For the fun of it I cycled the ignition off and then back on and the thing started! I pulled to a spot near my room and turned the truck off. I tried starting it again and it fired right off. I let it sit for about the same time it took me to check into the hotel (about 5 mins) and now I got nothing but a click again.

I disconnected the power again hooked it back up and and I was able to start the truck again. Turned the it off and waited only a minute and couldn't restart it. So I disconnected it again and now I can't get it started at all. Anyone have a clue what might be wrong?

 

Well I think I solved my issue. My starter cable was loose. Should have followed my own advice and checked that first! Funny thing was I actually checked this before I left on my trip and the cable was tight so I didn't even think it was an issue.

Tonight I crawled under to bang on the starter (was running out of ideas and I really didn't want my truck towed) and bump the cable by accident and sure enough it moved. Few turns of my loaner crescent wrench it starts all the time now.

I think what lead to the bad connection was I wiggled the cable before my trip to check the tightness and that may have broke just enough tension (or rust) free to start a small amount of play and 350 miles later...

The reason it may have worked when I removed the cable from the solenoid behind the battery was I was pulling the cable enough just to get a good connection until I moved the truck or got back in or out, etc. Eventually all my playing lead to a complete failure in the connection.

This is what I get for ignoring K.I.S.S. Anyway I hope this helps someone else in the future and helps them to remember to check the simple stuff even if you think it's fine!

 

A bad ground/loose cable is one of the hardest things to track down sometimes. Glad you got her squared away....

 

ugh, yeah chasing electrical gremlins is always a recipe for pulling ones hair out..

anyone who does Electrical diag./repairs for a living earns my respect..i dont know how u stay sane...

 

I'll second that for sure, I would rather pull a transmission out than screw with electrical stuff, just don't have the patience I guess.

 

Hey, detriot is close to me. I'll keep that in mind when my 4r100 dies if it ever does I'll take you up on some help rebuilding it

 

I had my sons out twice in hid 4WD SD, only took 2 hours the second time, amazing what you learn the second time around when doing that kind of stuff. Bad thing was it was probably an electrical issue and it probably could of stayed in, but water under the bridge at this point in time, it's done and gone, that's all that matters. I will charge for garage rental, damn things hog the space, can't do anything with one of those things spread out in a two car garage.