I turned the key the other day and heard that grinding crank like motor was already started! Then on the second turn it started fine? It has done this twice now? Is it safe to say its my starter or would this most likely be the other thing im afraid to say!!! Any help or thoughts are appreciated! chris

 

Man mine has done this for several years now, had dealer and other mechanics look at it, and put new starter on, had dealer and mechanics look at flywheel, and it still does it to this day. Good luck hope you find a result, now even my wifes 05 is starting to do this

 

Thanks for the input i almost put in a new starter this weekend i guess im glad i didnt but i am going to take it off and look at flywheel and such. I hope it is a fluke and will not break anything !! Thanks again ( Ill let you know if i find anything out!

 

Do you have any major draws on the system electrically when you start? Thinking you might not have enough juice to engage the flywheel completly and that is the sound, just a thought.

 

You know I have heard that before, my mother's 97 did it once and all they did was replace the battery cables and it was fixed. Had ford take mine off and give it a once over and they said it was fine, but I don't know anymore this has been going on for quite some time now.

 

My 01 has done this occasionally since I got it three years ago. One thing I've noticed - if I turn the key on, turn off all accessories (lights, a/c fan, radio), and wait for the fuel pump to shut off... it rarely does it. But, if I jump in and just hit the switch it'll do it frequently. That tells me it's electrical.. but I've cleaned all of the connections on the battery and the starter. Even replaced the starter.

I've scoured these forums before... using different keywords I found one post where the guy had paid Ford to replace the starter, then the flywheel... and it still did it! I know the service manager at a local Ford dealership but when I called him he said starter. I said I had already done that, he said flywheel. Just can't believe it.

A buddy said he saw a TSB for a similar issue on a Toyota and the fix was a larger ground wire. I went in search of the ground wire (from the engine to the frame) and didn't find it. Anyone know where the ground points are on an 01 or of a reference that would list them?


Tom

 

Yep, frame ground from battery is right behind the passenger side tire. The bolt down eventually gives way enough to rust in between the connect.

Have a picture of that somewhere, yea here -



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But that has nothing to do with the TSB, - it's a little messy -



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This is what the TSB refers to:



Which is down here, this is the biggest problem - the connections.



Yea, these break, fracture or whatnot. There is another MAIN grounds,- this connects to the bottom starter bolt. The bolt is a stud w/welded nut. Another nut was supplied via factory. The other is the main ground wire hold down. From that location, the main ground then doubles back and connects to the frame rail as mentioned above. If you guys just follow the harness you would see what's going on. I'll post more pics if I have any, I thought I had better here somewhere. ?

Ahh, here you go, this should help - , Red Pos / Green Ground ~



These are what needs serviced every now and again.

 

Better pic of frame ground. Frame ground has been modified to except nut and bolt. Blue Locker should be applied.



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New Harness Fab -



Cheaper to build your own, -allot cheaper. Price one and see for yourself lol. Like $250 for the main. That doesn't include anything other.

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You put together a nice detachable with a little investigating. There's a better way , but this one isn't bad -



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New factory replacements come detachable pig-tails. This is per TSB -

 

jbrew did you have this problem too or did you just go nuts on your starter

 

man my first guess with jbrew would be he went nuts... didnt you notice his cyl heads probably cleaner than my dinner plate?

 

Yes, I had intermittent connection problems. Decided to clean all connections when I busted the little threaded post off the solenoid with a 10mm wrench. The post was double nutted design to prevent that, but a pour design since the average 10mm wrench didn't have the room to get on the second nut. It was the right thought from an engineering standpoint , - on paper lol, but it must not of been field tested to well, - hence the TSB.





I ended up replacing the starter that time, -because of this.

 

- Well, I had to test for leaks when all was said and done. I just installed LT's as well and yes, I would go nuts if they leaked ,- hate exhaust leaks lol. Testing went well at the heads, although I had to re-torque headers 3 times before they maintained value.

 

I have a 2000 and it has done that and once to me and not started a couple times over the years, but then you turn over again and it is perfectly fine, starts right up and runs like no tomarrow. But now my starter finally went and we are hanving different problems that we think may have been connected to these signs over the years. We are looking into the ignition switch on the floor. It is acting up now, making my cylinoid stay ingaged and frying out my starter. This all after my original starter did go on its own. I love my ford, will never trade her for a chevy any day but she is tempermental!

 

Yea, I have another problem in the ignition on the column, - it's just wore out.

ALSO-

There is like a relay/module or something on the floor/firewall or under the dash I haven't looked at or tested yet, -I think that's what your referring to. I'm going to do both here pretty soon. User JMC gave me direction and correct part name of what gives out down their, but I can't recall that at the moment.

I'll follow up in this thread when I do, -since it has proper thread title

 

I think they r both called relays, not sure.
This we did is the ignition switch and its up behind the colum. It didnt fix my damn problem tho! The other relay is on the firewall it is considered the solenoid relay (i guess i sure hear alot of mixed *&^$ in this state) so I am changing that next.
But really to tell ya the truth, I just wonder if when these guys are putting the starter up and on if they are lining it up right on the flywheel. Dont get me wrong with the way this has acted over the years these things probably need to be done. But with what its doing now with frieing out of starters the minute you put them on.?? It grinds bad like the solenoid wont stop engaging until it fries the starter. Wouldnt that mean its not lined up right?