Starter problem?
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From: Paradise, San Diego
Starter problem?
Hey Fellas, Been a while since I've posted on here. Good to be back!
First things first
98 F-150
4.6L
4x4
Recently my truck has been having some starting problems. It seems to happen mostly in the morning when my truck is cold and has not run in 12 hours or so. When I turn the key to the ignition position to start it up in the morning it doesnt start and makes the clicking noise as if the battery is dead, all the lights work, all dash lights work, radio, etc. I have to turn the key about 10 different times until it starts right up. I got a new starter in 2008 and I got a new battery about 2 years ago. I havent looked at the starter or any of the connections yet but plan on doing so when I have some spare time and a garage with some tools in it.
Any idea what else to look for? Is it possible that it could be an electircal connection at the ignition? Or maybe its just a loose connection at the starter and/or battery? Starter Solenoid?
I feel that if it was a problem with the starter itself, It would happen more often and not just in the morning. Strangely enought, sometimes it happens in the middle of the day when i am leaving the beach or leaving the gym when its not cold at all. Other days it starts right up in the morning with no problem.
Anyways any help will be appreciated. Hope everyone is having a wonderful 2013!
D
First things first
98 F-150
4.6L
4x4
Recently my truck has been having some starting problems. It seems to happen mostly in the morning when my truck is cold and has not run in 12 hours or so. When I turn the key to the ignition position to start it up in the morning it doesnt start and makes the clicking noise as if the battery is dead, all the lights work, all dash lights work, radio, etc. I have to turn the key about 10 different times until it starts right up. I got a new starter in 2008 and I got a new battery about 2 years ago. I havent looked at the starter or any of the connections yet but plan on doing so when I have some spare time and a garage with some tools in it.
Any idea what else to look for? Is it possible that it could be an electircal connection at the ignition? Or maybe its just a loose connection at the starter and/or battery? Starter Solenoid?
I feel that if it was a problem with the starter itself, It would happen more often and not just in the morning. Strangely enought, sometimes it happens in the middle of the day when i am leaving the beach or leaving the gym when its not cold at all. Other days it starts right up in the morning with no problem.
Anyways any help will be appreciated. Hope everyone is having a wonderful 2013!
D
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Having just replaced my starter on Sunday in my driveway in the snow with temps in the low teens, I had to chuckle when I see someone in San Diego saying they need a garage.
We get a lot more problems with corrosion so I don't know if your issues will be similar, but I've gone through several starters over the years as well as some cable and connector problems (all at the starter). Those seem to be the most likely scenarios, either the connections are no longer making good enough contact, the cable ends corrode completely off, or the starter goes bad. Mine was intermittent this time (happened twice in three days, but eventually started) so I couldn't isolate the exact problem so I just replaced the starter and thoroughly cleaned the connections at the starter.
I have not had any problems with the starter relay (still original), neutral safety switch, or anything that wasn't in the immediate area of the starter itself.
We get a lot more problems with corrosion so I don't know if your issues will be similar, but I've gone through several starters over the years as well as some cable and connector problems (all at the starter). Those seem to be the most likely scenarios, either the connections are no longer making good enough contact, the cable ends corrode completely off, or the starter goes bad. Mine was intermittent this time (happened twice in three days, but eventually started) so I couldn't isolate the exact problem so I just replaced the starter and thoroughly cleaned the connections at the starter.
I have not had any problems with the starter relay (still original), neutral safety switch, or anything that wasn't in the immediate area of the starter itself.
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From: Paradise, San Diego
Having just replaced my starter on Sunday in my driveway in the snow with temps in the low teens, I had to chuckle when I see someone in San Diego saying they need a garage.
We get a lot more problems with corrosion so I don't know if your issues will be similar, but I've gone through several starters over the years as well as some cable and connector problems (all at the starter). Those seem to be the most likely scenarios, either the connections are no longer making good enough contact, the cable ends corrode completely off, or the starter goes bad. Mine was intermittent this time (happened twice in three days, but eventually started) so I couldn't isolate the exact problem so I just replaced the starter and thoroughly cleaned the connections at the starter.
I have not had any problems with the starter relay (still original), neutral safety switch, or anything that wasn't in the immediate area of the starter itself.
We get a lot more problems with corrosion so I don't know if your issues will be similar, but I've gone through several starters over the years as well as some cable and connector problems (all at the starter). Those seem to be the most likely scenarios, either the connections are no longer making good enough contact, the cable ends corrode completely off, or the starter goes bad. Mine was intermittent this time (happened twice in three days, but eventually started) so I couldn't isolate the exact problem so I just replaced the starter and thoroughly cleaned the connections at the starter.
I have not had any problems with the starter relay (still original), neutral safety switch, or anything that wasn't in the immediate area of the starter itself.
Anyways, thanks for the reply. Im going to check it all out this weekend and see whats up. Hopefully its just a simple swap of a bad wire. Thanks!
D
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Dec 1997
Posts: 9,417
Likes: 11
From: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
Odds are it is the positive cable going to the starter. It is a known issue. Corrosion wicks up the cable causing your symptoms. Next time it acts up Run a booster cable from the starter + cable to the battery + and try starting.
changed my starter out this summer and wow it sucked! I had the exact same problem so I tested my battery and it was good so next step was the strater. When I un bolted it and went to pull it out, the ground wire on the starter itself fell right off because it was corroded so bad. change er up man.