Turning key leads to random electrical clicking from fuse panel
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Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Newfoundland
Turning key leads to random electrical clicking from fuse panel
Hi folks,
I'm going to give you the problem as it is now, then I'll give you details leading up to how I got there. This is a 2000 F150 with a 4.2L V6.
The Problem: If I turn my key to the power position, all my gauges turn on and my electrical system works fine (radio, ligths, etc.) But if I turn the key the rest of the way to start the ignition, everything just goes dead. If I hold it in the start position, there's nothing. Not even cranking. But once I let go and the key snaps back to the power position, I begin to get a crazy clicking from the fuse panel under the dash. Nothing electrical will work either. The only way to get this random clicking to stop is to unhook the battery. If I reconnect the battery, I'm back at square one and I can repeat the process.
I tried starting it by conecting the solenoid terminals as well. I get one strong click and then the same random clicking from my dash fuse panel. It physically feels like Relays 1 and 2 are clicking.
Pretty sure it's not my starting motor because I had it replaced about a year ago.
The Lead Up: I had the truck parked for about a month. When I finally went to start it, I got a few slow cranks then it died. I figured the battery was dead so I tried to jumpstart it. This didn't work. I took the battery to a garage to get it tested. Test said battery was still good but needed a charge. They charged it for me. I took it home, hooked it up, and the truck still wouldn't start (but radio and lights were now working A1. At this point I was getting the clicking problem described at the top of the thread.)
So then I got rooting around under the hood and I noticed a squirell had made a bit of a nest with shredded paper in a cranny next to my coolant tank just above the driver's side front tire (more or less). Here's the weird part - I took out the paper nest and checked the wires, which were all connected except one (more on this later). The the truck started like a dream. Twice. So I parked the truck. Two days later, when I went to start it it was back to clicking.
The one wire that is disconnected is a grey wire that runs from near the steering colum towards the front drivers side light (or that general area). It has a purple mate which runs to the top of the engine. As far as I can tell, the grey wire ran to a ground (?) mounted on the front of the truck frame. The ground has a spring and a nut and it's sort of difficult to describe but I'm sure anyone halfway mechanically inclined will know what it is. Anyway, I tried to reconnect the wire as it was but broke the damn spring mechanism in the process. So then I tried using the nut to hold the spliced wire in place to the frame (hey, grounded is grounded, right?). No dice. But I think this grey wire is just a distraction because the truck started twice with this wire just hanging off.
I don't think it's my theft system because in my experience, the engine will turn over but not start with an un-programmed key. I know because I have one.
I checked any fuse that seemed to be related to the ignition system, but I'm open to suggestions there.
I also tried starting the truck in neutral based on suggestions from other threads.
Sugestions Welcome!
I'm going to give you the problem as it is now, then I'll give you details leading up to how I got there. This is a 2000 F150 with a 4.2L V6.
The Problem: If I turn my key to the power position, all my gauges turn on and my electrical system works fine (radio, ligths, etc.) But if I turn the key the rest of the way to start the ignition, everything just goes dead. If I hold it in the start position, there's nothing. Not even cranking. But once I let go and the key snaps back to the power position, I begin to get a crazy clicking from the fuse panel under the dash. Nothing electrical will work either. The only way to get this random clicking to stop is to unhook the battery. If I reconnect the battery, I'm back at square one and I can repeat the process.
I tried starting it by conecting the solenoid terminals as well. I get one strong click and then the same random clicking from my dash fuse panel. It physically feels like Relays 1 and 2 are clicking.
Pretty sure it's not my starting motor because I had it replaced about a year ago.
The Lead Up: I had the truck parked for about a month. When I finally went to start it, I got a few slow cranks then it died. I figured the battery was dead so I tried to jumpstart it. This didn't work. I took the battery to a garage to get it tested. Test said battery was still good but needed a charge. They charged it for me. I took it home, hooked it up, and the truck still wouldn't start (but radio and lights were now working A1. At this point I was getting the clicking problem described at the top of the thread.)
So then I got rooting around under the hood and I noticed a squirell had made a bit of a nest with shredded paper in a cranny next to my coolant tank just above the driver's side front tire (more or less). Here's the weird part - I took out the paper nest and checked the wires, which were all connected except one (more on this later). The the truck started like a dream. Twice. So I parked the truck. Two days later, when I went to start it it was back to clicking.
The one wire that is disconnected is a grey wire that runs from near the steering colum towards the front drivers side light (or that general area). It has a purple mate which runs to the top of the engine. As far as I can tell, the grey wire ran to a ground (?) mounted on the front of the truck frame. The ground has a spring and a nut and it's sort of difficult to describe but I'm sure anyone halfway mechanically inclined will know what it is. Anyway, I tried to reconnect the wire as it was but broke the damn spring mechanism in the process. So then I tried using the nut to hold the spliced wire in place to the frame (hey, grounded is grounded, right?). No dice. But I think this grey wire is just a distraction because the truck started twice with this wire just hanging off.
I don't think it's my theft system because in my experience, the engine will turn over but not start with an un-programmed key. I know because I have one.
I checked any fuse that seemed to be related to the ignition system, but I'm open to suggestions there.
I also tried starting the truck in neutral based on suggestions from other threads.
Sugestions Welcome!
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,494
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From: Slidell, LA
Sounds power related.... Thats the exact same situation I would expect in a bad battery. If you have had the batt tested using a Carbon style tester I would be checking the Fusible Link for 12v on both sides and the fuse box for 12v on both sides under load. Very often you can get a 1/2 unpopped fuse that looks solid. But when current is sent through it, it will show a drop in voltage on one side of the fuse.
That wire that is disconnected, trace it to where it belongs and connect it back. IIRC that may be a VSS wire from the PCM.
Yes, a ground may be ground but its also very plausible that it isn't a ground wire.... Snag Pics.
That wire that is disconnected, trace it to where it belongs and connect it back. IIRC that may be a VSS wire from the PCM.
Yes, a ground may be ground but its also very plausible that it isn't a ground wire.... Snag Pics.