I think it's the starter that went out, but I wanted to get some feedback on the forum too. TomS is coming by to pick me up after he gets off work in a few minutes, and we're going to use his spare starter that he has at home.

Anyway, on to the problem....

I got into my truck, turned the key to run (didn't try to start), and I started to hear a weird buzzing/humming/whirring noise that sounded like it was coming from under the truck. It kept getting louder and louder, so I turned the key off and pulled it out. The noise kept going and was getting worse, so I jumped out of the truck and went to look underneath to see where the sound was coming from. Suddenly I heard a loud pop, like a firecracker went off, and the sound stopped.

Put the key back in, turned it on, everything looked normal (dash gauges and lights all came on, glow plug relay lamp was on). In addition, the fuel pressure was normal on my fuel pressure gauge. There was no noise this time, so I tried to start and nothing happened.

I pulled out my laptop and checked with AE for any problems... nothing. I pulled up vehicle voltage on the live data menu and watched as I tried to crank the truck. The voltage didn't change, meaning the starter was not even trying to engage.

I checked fuses, found all to be good. I swapped relays out (including the starter relay in the fuse box), and still no start.

My truck is a 2002, and as far as I know there's no starter relay on the fenderwell. I think Ford got rid of that in 02 if memory serves me correctly.

So, here I am. Like I said, I think the starter is toast, and I'm going to try and swap it out to see if that's the problem. However, if it is the starter, the way it blew is rather odd, since it killed itself without me trying to crank.

Unless, anyone has any other suggestions....

 

Forgot to mention, my truck had only been sitting for an hour, but the starter was hotter than the oil pan. That was my other indication that it was the starter.

 

kinda sounds like my buddies problem.

have you had any rain lately. because the problem he had was his windshield leaked on the top drivers side and all the water went down into his fuse box under the dash. all his lights came on in the dash and stuff but nothing when tried to start. found out that the top little relay in the fuse panel was fried. replaced that and the truck started right up. he also heard hissing and wire shorting sounds.

check to see if you can get any water to come out of your fuse panel. he just took the relay out and blew in there with his mouth and said alot of water flew out.

 

I'd guess you're on the right track. No fender relay on my 02 either, and no fusible link in the circuit that I know of. Was the whirring, humming, buzzing an electrical sound or possibly the starter gear spinning without kicking out?

You did check the simple things like making sure the gear selector is in Park, right?

Next question is going to be is what kind of shape is the wiring going to be in if things got as hot as it sounds like.

 

X2. Keep us posted Curtis.

 

Sounds like your starter committed itself.

 

Sounds like your truck is trying to tell you, I want a new starter....

 

I made it back home, and my truck is running again.


It was the starter. TomS (I think he's a member here but doesn't check this forum often) picked me up in downtown Denver and we drove to his house. He had a spare starter from an OBS truck, so we picked it up and drove back to where my truck was. Popped in the starter (it fit by the way), and the truck fired right up.

So a huge thanks to Tom for his help!!!!

 

Are you planning an autopsy to see what went POP?

 

I might if I get some time. There was nothing on the outside that showed any indication of a problem.

 

Curtis, make sure you buy one of those DB high torq starters, i hear they are the way to go.

 

That's exactly what I'm going to do. Tom is loaning me his old starter until I get one shipped in.

 

I'm thinking along the lines that the solenoid on the starter itself was partially engaged. Meaning that the contact's may have welded themselves together but there was enough resistance so that the bendex wouldn't engage. This would explain the heat from the starter. Just a theory....