1997 - 2003 F-150

Please help! 1999 Electrical issues.

Old Nov 10, 2014 | 05:15 PM
  #1  
F1Fiddy99's Avatar
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From: Pekin, Illinois
Please help! 1999 Electrical issues.

I have a 1999 F-150 4x4 with a 4.6 V8 hooked up to a 5-speed manual.

Right now it is refusing to start. I got a new battery for it not too long ago and had it running just fine. I left it sitting for a few weeks and now it won't turn over. The battery tested perfectly fine, but even hooked up with jumper cables to my car, it won't even attempt to start. It just clicks.

If i leave the key in the ignition in the ON position, the dash lights flicker on and off with a periodic click sound over and over. When i try to start it... nothing.

Its had funny electrical mishaps for years now. The radio decides on its own when it wants to work, the speedometer goes ape**** on its own, sometimes the windshield wipers come on themselves for one or two random wipes. But never anything like this to where it jeopardizes me being able to drive it.

Any common problems? If anybody could help me out it would be huge. Where i have it parked, it's impossible to have it towed. So it has to be fixed where it is.

Please keep in mind that i rarely work on vehicles and I'm illiterate when it comes to motor or electrical lingo. So keep it simple if at all possible.

Thank you guys!
 
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Old Nov 10, 2014 | 06:35 PM
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glc
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From: Joplin MO
Check the obvious first - dirty terminals at BOTH ends of the cables.
 
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Old Nov 11, 2014 | 05:10 PM
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From: "Enjoy every sandwich" - Warren Zevon
Battery cable terminals
Grounds
GEM module.

Jim
 
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Old Nov 12, 2014 | 10:17 AM
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From: Calgary, Alberta Canada
My battery terminals used to require me to pull them and clean them yearly until I put an AGM battery in the truck. A friend of mine has the same truck as me and has the same problem. The terminals corrode very fast. The cables themselves are a known issue as well and since your truck is 15 years old with, I'm guessing, many miles, they might need replacing.
 
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