Had a weird thing happen this morning. Truck started fine yesterday...but went out to the garage this morning and the truck turned over slower than usual (similar to a weak battery) and acted like a carbed engine that was flooded...kinda tried to fire...but just wouldn't. About the third time I tried to start it, when I let off the start position of the key...the starter kept on spinning, as if I still had the key in the start position. Starter spun for a second or two then quit. Tried a couple more times and the truck finally started.

I let it run for a couple of minutes...turned it off and tried again and it started up right up...starter spun at the normal speed as a hot battery would. It has started fine ever since (about 6-8 times).

I have read that a bad battery will cause all kinds of weird stuff with these newer trucks...but to have the starter keep spinning after I let of the key was just too strange.

The truck is a '13 XLT Screw...bought it new back in Feb. and only has 5450 miles on her.

I am posting this on another F150 forum also...to hopefully get some info, opinions, ideas, etc.

 

These trucks have the easy start ignition on them. All you have to do is just bump the key and let go and it will turn the engine over its self until it starts, if after 5 or 10 seconds it doesnt start then it will stop cranking.

 

Wow...I did not know that. Guess I need to look over my owner's manual. Learn something new every day. Still have to find out why it wouldn't start right up though.

Thanks for the quick response...!

 

Ifr you had bothered to read yer danged Owner's Guide, you'd have had yer answer:


Excerpt from Page 195:

Note: Do not touch the accelerator pedal.

1. Fully press the brake pedal.
2. Turn the key to the start position to start the engine. Release the key
when the engine starts.

Note: The engine may continue cranking for up to 15 seconds or until it
starts.

I'd take the time to completely read through the entire "How to Start Ye Fekkin' Engine" section.... may hep yall wif starting foibles n'sich....

Good grief.....

Happy Fekkin' Holidays
MGD

_____________________________________

 

[QUOTE=MGDfan;5125042]Ifr you had bothered to read yer danged Owner's Guide, you'd have had yer answer:


Excerpt from Page 195:

Note: Do not touch the accelerator pedal.

1. Fully press the brake pedal.
2. Turn the key to the start position to start the engine. Release the key
when the engine starts.

Note: The engine may continue cranking for up to 15 seconds or until it
starts.

I'd take the time to completely read through the entire "How to Start Ye Fekkin' Engine" section.... may hep yall wif starting foibles n'sich....

Good grief.....

Happy Fekkin' Holidays
MGD

Well...the part you made bold is really a moot point if the manual says "Release the key when the engine starts".

 

Green bean I too have a 2013 XLT SCrew & the only thing I've niticed so far is an occasional delay if you jump in stick the key in & turn it right away. Otherwise, nothing strange, but I've only put about 500 miles on it since I bought it at 20,500 on the odometer.

 

Thanks 03Fx4JD. I usually wait until the dings stop before trying to start the truck. I got into that habit several years ago when electronic ignitions became the norm.

This has never happened until this morning. I'm hoping that it was just a hiccup in the computer. Then again...I'd hate to be out somewhere and get stranded. Although I do have AAA road assistance that came with the truck when I bought it.

I will see what happens when I try to start it in the morning. It's not like it was cold...it has always been parked in our attached garage since I have owned it.

 

I think you COULD well have a low battery. It is not uncommon for a vehicle to start normally one day and then have a slow turning starter the next if the battery is failing.

I'd have the battery load tested, if I were you.

- Jack

 

Thanks Jack...that's what I'm leaning to also.

Guess I'll call the dealership tomorrow and see if the battery is under warranty from FoMoCo on a 10 month old truck?

 

It should be, on my 07 I had the battery replaced under warranty 3 times. Finally when it went again, I was past my 3 year mark so it was on me that time.

 

Thanks a bunch. I will have them check it out.

 

Tried just bumping the start position with the key today. KingRanchCoy is absolutely correct....the truck cranked over by itself a couple times and started right up. I had read thru my manual when I first got the truck back in Feb. I also have it downloaded in PDF form on my computer. I just did a search and found nothing related to the easy start ignition.

The manual seems to be a little misleading by stating to "release the key when the engine starts". I had never heard of just bumping the start position and releasing it, and the engine cranking by itself. The manual should be a little more clear about this IMO. Even did a google search and found nothing. The salesmen / dealerships should be aware of this and let people know about this when they sell a vehicle.

I'm still a little concerned about why it was difficult to start yesterday. I will definitely have the battery checked to see if that was the problem. It has started fine every time since the one incident yesterday.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

Id betcha anything the battery was low.. Ive went through 2 batteries in the last 20 months on the motorcraft batteries. Seems like when the truck would sit for 2 days it would turn over real slow.. Sometimes even the battery light would be on.. Finally after the 2nd MC battery started doing it i went and got a Diehard battery from sears and it kicks off everytime like it should.

As far as the easy start ignition, its been around in vehicles for a while. Dads 99 Mercedes has it, then went a long time before i saw it again and got my Eb and noticed it had it.. Also my DD 2011 Impala has it. I like it!

 

Thanks again KRC. This is my first new truck since my 2003 Toyota Tacoma. As far as I know the Toyota didn't have the easy start ignition. Then again, it could have and I never even knew it. I have always just turned the key to start and let off when the engine started.

It is indeed a cool feature. I am so glad you posted it and made me aware of it. The dealerships should make it a point to have their sales people let new buyers know of this feature. I was never told about it when I bought the truck.

 

I'm going to try that when we go to town here in a few minutes. Just bump it and let go....