I have a 2000 F150 5.4L V8 Triton XLT 4x4. I recently spit, yet another, spark plug. This time I decided to save money and take the head out and have it fixed at the machine shop. Afterwards, I put everything back together and it fired up no problem. After a few minutes of idling (was checking to make sure nothing was leaking, etc.) the vehicle made a kind of a high pitch grinding noise, almost as if you turned the key with it already started, and then died. Now, all electrical works fine until you put the key in start, then I have a light click and all electrical cuts out. Once, I let go and return the key to run all electrical works as usual. It does the same thing in park and neutral. I tried to use a screwdriver to connect the starter solenoid posts. That produces light sparking and a more solid clunk, but that's it. I've checked every ground I can find, they're solid. I replaced the battery. Battery terminals are clean. I'm dumbfounded at this point. Please advise. Thank you!

Note: I've read all similar posts, but they didn't remedy the problem or people stopped responding. I apologize if this is found to be a duplicate.

 

This won't help with your issue, but why did you pull the head instead of simply using a Timesert?

To keep the plugs from spitting out, torque them to 28 ft/lb.

 

I would try turning the engine over by hand. I hope something didn't go awry with one of the timing chains or something of that order.

 

My friend tried to tap it and messed it all up; wrong type of tap kit and went in at a crazy angle.

I doubt it's the timing chain, but I'll crank it by hand in the morning to double check.

I did just figure out that the wire running to the alternator was on the top post of the starter solenoid. I moved it to the bottom. Could that have fried something? If so, what?

 

I did that once when I was new to these. It melted the starter. I'm pretty sure that's what happened to you. Same symptoms. Trying to start the engine still energizes the starter and sucks the life from your battery because it's seized.

 

ishootstuff: thank you for your comment! I pulled the starter and you could already tell the wire was partially melted, but had it tested anyway. To no surprise, it was bad. After discussing my vehicle's symptoms with this new info, all the sounds and when they would be present made perfect sense. The wrongly wired starter solenoid fried my starter along with the relay. After installing new parts and triple checking EVERYTHING. I went to fire her up and she started beautifully! I let her run for around 3 minutes and then turned her off for a few to recheck everything. Did that a few times and then took her for a test drive. Everything is running and sounding normal. Thank you very much for your advice. I literally can not keep a smile off my face! Thank you again!

 

I'm glad my mistake could help somebody.

 

The trucks engine is running fine. However, a new problem has surfaced. Sometimes when I start the vehicle there is a fairly long series of beeps. Afterwards, when I shut the truck off. The fan controls still work and the overhead compass/thermometer still works until I manually turn them off. Also, I get a weird scratching popping noise that increases in volume. If I turn the truck on or open a door it stops, but eventually comes back at random with the truck off. The noise sounds like it's coming from somewhere between under the dash at the steering column to maybe more the center of the vehicle, hard to pin point. Please advise.

 

The beeping could be an airbag system fault. Can you count the beeps? I think this will happen if the bulb for the passenger airbag OFF status is burned out.