I have a 2000 Model F150 Lariat and about every 10th attempt to start there is absolutely nothing. No click.. No crank... nothing!! ERRR!!!! Usually 30 minutes later it starts. All lights work, charging system has been checked and dealer claims they don't know what's up. I'm at 60k miles and out of warranty. Help anybody PLEASE..

 

Have you checked the battery connections? My Mustang GT used to do that every now and then. I'd have to disconnect the cables and give then a good wire brush treatment along with the battery posts. They never showed any corrosion or whatever that white chalky crap is, but it would start after that.

 

Yes I have. The dealer checked the entire charging system. About every 10th time it just won't start, not even a click, but the lights work and then 30 minutes or so later it starts. I'm going to replace the battery relay then move to the starter. i already started using my replacement key, but to no avail. Any help would be grateful.

 

Remove, clean, and retighten the ground wire connection at the engine block - even if it looks clean and tight. It can cause a lot of intermittent problems. People always think to look at the battery end but not at the block.

No click (with a good battery) used to always mean a bad starter relay. If the relay doesn't pull in (the click), it doesn't send power to the starter. Possibly a bad connection on the relay plug? The starter relay should be very cheap to replace. You might even try it yourself if you know where it is. When you said battery relay - did you mean the starter relay? I have never heard of a battery relay.

Do you have the new anti-theft key with the chip in it? The starter relay used to be triggered from a set of electrical contacts on the back of the ignition switch but nowdays it might get it's signal from the computer. If the signal comes from the computer I would start suspecting that the computer is not always recognizing the chip in the key. It would be worth while to ask the dealer's electrical specialist which functions are disabled if the computer doesn't recognize your key chip - STARTER RELAY, dashboard lights, ignition system, radio? Then, next time it doesn't start, you can start breaking down what works and what doesn't.

I have seen two starters go bad intermittently. If you tapped on them sharply with a hammer they would start. Both of them got worse untill they had to be replaced. In both cases though, you could hear the relay click so you knew they were getting power.

IF - you are a real strong do-it-yourselfer, and know how to read a volt/ohm meter, Ford sells a book on the truck electrical systems. It's expensive but it could be cheaper than paying someone to check your charging system when the ignition system is having problems.

Good Luck

 

The fact that you have to wait 30 minutes to start the engine leads me to believe that you have a problem with the PATS.

Does it happen with both keys? Try switching keys first and see if the problem continues. If it's trouble free, then you know it's a defective PATS key.

 

its not PATS, the pats system on a f150 and exped. will still let the starter spin, it doesnt disable it.