I have a 1998 F 150 4X4 with a 4.6L V8. It is stock as far as I know, maybe some flowmasters. When I parked last night, everything was fine.

This morning when I left for work, I reached in to crank the truck while I scraped the ice off the windshield. I put the key in and turned the ignition to the "on" position, everything was normal. I turned past that to the "crank" position, and nothing happened. All the lights went off, and the dinger stopped dinging. I turned the key back to the "on" position, and the lights did not come back on, nor did the dinger start. I checked the battery posts for corrosion, but there was none. The wires were plenty tight on the post. The lights will come back on after a minute or two, but only for a few seconds. I can hear a relay clicking under the steering wheel when the key is in the off position. I don't know if it's related or not, but my open door dinger dings when the key is in or out if the door is open, so I guess it's trying to ding, but don't know. Also, I can hear a relay clicking under the hood when the key is in the "on" position. I pulled the cover off and it is relay # 6, but I don't know what it's for. When this relay is clicking, the light for the passenger side airbag will come on and the check engine light will come on, but faintly, like they are getting and losing power rapidly. But again, when I turn the ignition to the crank position, everything stops.

Anybody have an idea?

 

Your batt is dead, it might be ok just needs a charge. Trust me ive had to deal with this alot recently, and no one has helped me out with my problem yet...

Im pretty sure the relay your hearing is the "battery saver" relay.

 

I had that problem, but it was my terminals and cables. I replaced the terminals and cleaned the ends of the cables and just bought a new optima and have had no problems since. Good luck and hope its something simple.

 

You can't tell if the battery terminals are good just by looking. REMOVE them and clean them, both the terminal rings and the battery posts. Get the thing started - jump it if you have to - and take it down to Autozone and get the battery and charging system tested - it's free.

 

I would charge the battery first, then go from there.I am wondering if your door was ajar and ran the battery down.

 

Try pushing your shifter up like your going into park and hold it as far up as you can and try to start it at the same time. Iv had a few times where my truck wouldn't start and i did that and it worked

 

Yeah, you are all right. I did turn out to be the battery after all. I don't know why it went dead though; it still worries me.

 

yeah another indication of dead battery i do believe is the guages sweeping to full then back to zero when you turn in on position. When my battery died I heard the same clicking youre talking about.