Starting issues-checked through threads...couldn't find related problem or answer
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Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2
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From: Wisconsin
Starting issues-checked through threads...couldn't find related problem or answer
Hi,
I have read through quite a few posts on this forum, but could not find the answer or question to a similar problem I am having. Recently, I have been working on my father-in-law's 1999 F150 because of its age, and things starting to go wrong with it.
So here is the problem: The other day he came home from work and had no issues. The next day I went to use it, and it did not start. All I get is a clinking noise (like the starter is kicking the gear out, but not turning the engine over). I checked the connections on the starter and found the main wire corroded and just barely hanging on. So today I replaced the wiring harness from the battery to the starter, and no such luck.
Still get the clinking noise as though the starter is kicking out. There is no clicking noise as if the solenoid is bad. I did try putting a screw driver between the two big posts on the solenoid located on the firewall, but just got sparks, nothing else. So any suggestions or ideas would be much appreciated.
I have read through quite a few posts on this forum, but could not find the answer or question to a similar problem I am having. Recently, I have been working on my father-in-law's 1999 F150 because of its age, and things starting to go wrong with it.
So here is the problem: The other day he came home from work and had no issues. The next day I went to use it, and it did not start. All I get is a clinking noise (like the starter is kicking the gear out, but not turning the engine over). I checked the connections on the starter and found the main wire corroded and just barely hanging on. So today I replaced the wiring harness from the battery to the starter, and no such luck.
Still get the clinking noise as though the starter is kicking out. There is no clicking noise as if the solenoid is bad. I did try putting a screw driver between the two big posts on the solenoid located on the firewall, but just got sparks, nothing else. So any suggestions or ideas would be much appreciated.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: saskatoon sk
first check the voltage on the battery make sure you getting at least 13 volts..then the battery connections make sure they are nice and tight..also there is a fuse somewhere on the firewall..not sure exactly where maybe someone else will know...it might even be that the solenoid on the start is gone
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 10,511
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From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
No sure what you shorted together, but there are several threads on this topic, and no note of what you tried out of them, if anything.
1. As fullyford posted, what is the battery voltage, and how old is the battery ?
- An old battery can cause you problems when it comes to CCA.
If the battery has been load tested as good:
2. Don't know what exactly you shorted together to get the sparks, but you can try turning the key to the run position, and apply power at the Starter motor relay on the firewall, to the same lug as Tan w/ Red stripe wire.
This is the same as the power from the start position on the key applying power to the starter motor relay.
3. Have you tried starting the truck in Park and in Neutral ?
Could be a problem with the DTR sensor or the alignment of it.
Checking both the fuse links is also a good idea, to make sure one of them is not blown.
You said one of the lugs on the starter side was corroded, what did the other one look like ?
1. As fullyford posted, what is the battery voltage, and how old is the battery ?
- An old battery can cause you problems when it comes to CCA.
If the battery has been load tested as good:
2. Don't know what exactly you shorted together to get the sparks, but you can try turning the key to the run position, and apply power at the Starter motor relay on the firewall, to the same lug as Tan w/ Red stripe wire.
This is the same as the power from the start position on the key applying power to the starter motor relay.
3. Have you tried starting the truck in Park and in Neutral ?
Could be a problem with the DTR sensor or the alignment of it.
Checking both the fuse links is also a good idea, to make sure one of them is not blown.
You said one of the lugs on the starter side was corroded, what did the other one look like ?
Thread Starter
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Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2
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From: Wisconsin
The battery is only one year old and has a good charge. Battery connections are all good and clean. The corroded part I was talking about was the metal tab that connects to the starter stud from the wiring harness, but that is all good because I put a new harness on today. Have yet to try and start it in neutral. I am guessing maybe the solenoid or starter itself?
