HELP!!! Please

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Aug 4, 2009 | 09:34 AM

g_rat84

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HELP!!! Please

Drove my 2004 F150 home from work last night - no problems. Started to take wife out to eat and truck would not start. When the ignition was turned I got nothing, much like a very weak or dead battery. Came back from dinner, hooked up battery charger and charged battery. Tried again. When ignition switch is turned on (before engaging starter) all the dash cluster lights would come on as usual then they would go off and on much like someone was connecting/disconnecting battery cable. Speedometer and tachometer would also show truck turning approx. 3K RPM and doing about 65 MPH....without being cranked. Could this be a bad battery, relay, or what? Please help with this as I need my truck running ASAP.
Thanks

Aug 4, 2009 | 10:13 AM

8UP

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Joined: Oct 2007

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From: Amelia Ohio

First things first, have your battery load tested. Check your termonals & make shure you have a good ground & everthings tight.
Hope this helps.
(My guess is the battery)

Aug 4, 2009 | 11:00 AM

thirsty99

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Joined: Mar 2005

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Yup Need a new battery. These trucks do really strange things when the batteries go south. Lights go on\off, gages sweep, that sort of thing. Freaks you out the first time it happens.

Aug 4, 2009 | 11:12 AM

Still Smoking

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Joined: Feb 2007

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From: Michigan

I have heard if its a bad battery it will do funny things with these trucks. Kinda like what you have described.

Aug 4, 2009 | 02:16 PM

greenbullitt

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bad battery or ground. i bet battery first

Aug 4, 2009 | 04:17 PM

Oldguy4

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Joined: Jul 2008

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From: Newport, Wa.

If you put the battery charger on it and it still acted up, I'm guessing a bad battery connection. It could be at either end of the two cables. But have things tested before just going out and throwing new parts at it.

Aug 5, 2009 | 08:44 AM

g_rat84

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Thanks to everyone who replied. I tested the battery, alternator, etc. last night. The battery was the problem. Replaced the battery and now the old girl is purring again.