I have a 2004 FX4 that I have had since new (Dec 2003). I have never had a starting problem before Yesterday. Yesterday I went out to the garage and when I tried starting the truck - nothing, I had power to everything and I could hear a relay in the passenger side fusebox click, but the truck wouldn't even try to turn over. The light on top of the dash would flash rapidly. I pulled a code that indicated a problem with the PATS system communication. I immeadiately tried my spare key....same thing...no start. I tried everything I could think of (disconnected battery for a while and reconnected, left the key in the on position for over 30 seconds before trying to start - I read that off a Ford Bulliten) still it wouldn't even turn over. I thought I was SOL, but I had read on another forum to leave the key in the ignition for 30 minutes and then try starting it. This sounded pretty lame to me, but I thought....what do I have to lose? I did it......and 30 minutes later the truck started. What gives?

I am now worried that this could happen again and leave me stranded. I am just wondering if anyone else had this problem and what the cause might be?

Thanks

 

I had a similar experience about 10 days ago. I replaced my battery.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...t=dead+battery

 

On the bright side, if this happens again, you won't be stranded for any longer than 30 minutes.

 

Yeah but if you only have 29 minutes to get where you're going you are screwed.

 

Do you have remote start?

 

it's your battery. classics signs

1. truck won't start
2. power to lights and radio
3. you can hear a relay clicking randomly


same thing happened to me when I swapped batteries with my other truck to test it.

 

I hear ya.

 

No, I do not have remote start.

I have doubts that it is a battery problem. Why would it start 30 minutes later? I just got back from a short trip and it seems to crank over pretty good? I will keep an eye on the battery though?

I wonder if the PATS system, that is what was keeping it from starting, is affected by a bad battery? It certainly was not drawing on the battery as when I was trying to start it, I turned on the headlights and they never dimmed at all when I turned the key.

 

I don't know.

In my case, the Durango was fine. We drove it, parked for litterally 10 minutes and tried to start it.

Every single electrical thing in the cab went crazy. All the lights worked just fine.

Battery tested at 11.9 volts across the terminals.

Slapped it into the F-150 and the truck went bat**** also.


Bought a new battery and problem disappeared in both vehicles

 

same here to!

 

Same thing has happpened to the brother with his 2nd battery. Anyone figure it out?

 

if the battery is too low for the computer to initialize it does some crazy stuff, my 2000 f250 had both batteries go at the same time and every light started flashing when i tried to start it. wipers tried to come on and the tack went nuts, i thought my truck was possesed

 

Brother just figured it out. Anti-theft system. You need to hit your unlock door to disengage the starter disable feature. That's why it won't even jump start.

 

I had that same thing happen in my car. I had even drove it up to that spot 15 minutes earlier.... then bam... No go. Replaced the battery. Fixed. And BTW, the battery in my car was the stock one, but less than two years old ! Crappy stock batteries

Hopefully your problem will be the same, easy fix.

Peace,
Fish