My 98 f150 4.2 6 cly 4x4 has sat for 2 weeks in below freezing temperatures without being started. Last night I started it, turned a couple of times before it caught. Drove to town and back.
This morning all I hear is the starter relay on firewall click. Dome Light dims when I turned key and got click. Jumped relay with screwdriver, starter didn't turn. Tried tapping starter with hammer. Wife got home, jumped battery with her car it started, let run for 20 minutes. Turn off, starts no problem.
4 hours later I go to start it, click, turned key a few more times,click click click, it turns and caught on last try. Turned it off, back on again no problem a few times.
Battery less than a year old. No voltage meter.you think it could be a bad connection between battery and solenoid or starter.could moisture be in something causing something to freeze from the cold and ridiculous amount of snow we've been getting.
Thanks

 

Clean the terminals and connections, charge the battery and get it and the alternator tested.

 

Thanks
It started this morning!
I'll definitely be checking connections etc
Yesterday I made sure I turned everything off on the panel, heater, etc. The wipers and heater were left in on position before, is it possible something electronic could be draining the battery?

 

Cold here again today.
This morning click click again but went on 3rd try.
Went for break at work and it was click click, wouldn't go.
Got one of our mechanics to come up to give me a jump, that didn't work.
Eventually he grabbed the serpentine belt, turned it so pulleys would turn on starter etc.. turned the key and it went.
Must be moisture in it and brushes or whatever, inside is frozen and by turning the belt it broke it free.
Kinda makes sense because it only happens on snowy bitter cold days
Talked to him later, he said I should pull the starter and grease the bushing

 

Be aware that the starter is almost NEVER the culprit! Connections connections connections.. The relay or a weak battery. The starter is way down on the list. Ford builds a pretty decent starter. I've never replaced a bad one. I have replaced a few good ones! Don't do that if you dont have to! Check the big wire on the starter-they corrode!

 

Why would it work when he turned serpentine belt? Must of freed up something, can't see him moving the belt would help a connection.

 

All that has to happen is enough voltage cross the connection. You had it start that morning without doing anything. I've had this issue before and when you have it the vehicle will start seemingly when it feels like it. Checking all connections is not that hard and its CHEAP. Do the CHEAP thing first! Try shorting the big post on the firewall relay to the small post during the no start to. Its also wise to have the battery tested-again CHEAP autozone will do that for free!

 

I've tried the firewall relay, that didn't work, I actually put a new firewall solenoid on it last March.
If it happens tomorrow I'll try moving the belt, if that doesn't work I'll check connections better when the weather improves. If it does work I'll pull starter and grease the bushing where the brass bolt is someday

 

Wouldn't go this morning, I couldn't get the belt to move.
Jumped battery and it went.
Got a multi meter battery 12.7ish
With alternator 14.4ish
Check battery again in a few hours see how much it drops if it does.
Can I check starter connections etc with the multi meter?

 

take a flash light and visually inspect it. If its corroded you may be able to clean it but sometimes they have to be replaced and thats kind of a drag..

 

I had the same clicking issue, sometimes it would start, sometimes not, until it finally wouldn't do nothing but click, turned out to be the solenoid that sits on top of the starter.

 

Started this morning, was kinda hoping it wouldn't! Lol battery reading 12.5 volts before I started it
I'll check solenoid on starter next time it happens. Can I jump that solenoid like the one on firewall?

 

Yes you can jump the solenoid on top of the starter, BUT if that is the faulty part jumping it will likely be no different than turning the starter switch from inside the truck.

 

If you are going to go down there to try to jump it, you might as well check and clean all the connections down there first!

The ground strap between the solenoid and starter has a history of corroding away. If that's the case, might as well replace the starter.

 

ok, when I go down there I'll check and clean connections.
It'll likely be when it warms up some