I was driving around fine this afternoon and nothing out of ordinary was happening. Came home and after a couple hours I was about to head out for dinner and the truck won't start. I'm placing this in Electrical Systems because I have a suspicion that this is somehow due to the Theft security.

What happens is: I tap the unlock button on the key fob and go to start the truck. There are the sounds of any accessories starting up and a THUNK - not an engine thunk though. I've checked to make sure the battery cables are on tight and there doesn't appear to be anything disconnected under the hood. Any ideas?

99 XLT with the 4.6 V8, Auto, RWD. 130,000km.

 

Should I try in another thread or does no one here have an idea?

 

Does your theft light in the dash flash real fast?

If so, try another key. You may want to wait a minute or two so that it will allow the coded key to engage the starter.

Let me know!!

FordMasterTech

 

No the Theft light stays illuminated.

I only have the one key on me - the other is "away" and when it comes back is gonna blame me for the truck not starting.

 

Under the hood, on the firewall up top is the solenoid for the starter. Turn key on and set parking brake.. jump the contacts @ the solenoid to see if the truck does anything...

FordMasterTech

 

I can hear the solenoid click when I turn the key to start the truck but silence afterwards.

If I'm trying to do the jump at the right place there's a protective plastic cover over one of the points. I tried removing it by both twist and pull but could not - is this the right spot?

 

the only plastic cover that comes to mind covers the solenoid altogether. (only a few of the earlier model 97 98 99?) F150's.
If this is the case it opens from the bottom..

Look for two wires joined together with eyelets that bolt on..

that is the solenoid.

FordMasterTech

 

IF the you can hear the solenoid on the starter clicking, then try
taking a hammer and tapping the starter... If it starts then,
You need a new starter....


FordMasterTech

 

Tried tapping the starter and nothing happened.

 

Perfectly good batteries have been known to just break a battery bar inside the cells and go to nothing in a heartbeat...jeff

 

I can still run the accessories off the battery fine. None of the lights are dim and the heater fan comes on fine. If it were the battery would these not be running poorly? Also if it were the starter going would I not have difficulty starting leading up to a failure?

 

ions
a while back,someone had the same problem. It turned out the larger red wire in the wire wrap going from the "solenoid" to the starter had corroded apart. had to take off the wire wrap to find it.

 

Would the indicator stay green if that were to happen?

 

 

Yes-ford calls it the starter relay. if it clicks when you turn the key and the starter is OK but won't turn, there might be a seperated wire inside the wire wrap leading from the "Y" shaped rubber shield to the starter. There are 2 wires in there-either would cause the problem.