Hey All,

I have a 2000 F150 with a 5.4. I drove it home yesterday, and last night tried to go back out, but nothing. I have interior lights, headlamps, radio, etc, but I don't even have the click - click - click of a bad battery. It's not even trying to crank - just silence. The interior light does go out when trying to start.

I cleaned battery cables that were corroded, and reinstalled the battery, but still nothing.

Any ideas???

Thanks!
BrewMonkey

 

check the main thick red wire running from the battery to the starter solenoid. Check the end where it bolts to the starter soleniod it may be corroded its a common thinf with F-150's. Also follow the positive wire from the battery and check connections.

 

Thanks Buckdropper (like the handle!). I'll check it when the rain slows today.

 

Try to jump start it. If you get it to start, take a screwdriver and put it on the back of the alternator....If it is magnetic the alt is good if not replace the alternator

 

I checked the connections and they seem OK. Tried to jump it it but nothing. I'm going to pull out the starter and get it tested.

BrewMonkey

 

I'm not sure on these trucks, but do they have started solenoids like the older vehicles do? If the truck is not even clicking, that sounds a solenoid to me...

 

That means you have a defective battery, cable, or connection.

To troubleshoot, connect your meter leads across what should be a dead short connection such as the neg batt post to the block or the pos post to the starter solenoid.

Hit the starter and look for a voltage where there should be none.

With your description, I'd expect to see a voltage of anywhere from 3 to 12 volts where the expected amount should be less than 0.1 V.

It's doubtful that your starter is the problem. Even if it tests as bad due to excessive current draw, you STILL have a power supply problem. A replacement starter will still fail to operate.

The 00 also has a pair of fuse links in the circuit bewteen the battery and the starter solenoid. Check them also.

Steve

 

It turned out to be the Solenoid unit. It is located under the hood behind the battery. My mechanic charged me $59.00 to RR a Motocraft unit. It runs fine now.