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I have a 99 Expedition 4wd with 5.4 motor. The battery is approx. 3 years old.

My problem is sometimes when i try to start it, it completely loses power. (no lights, no dinging, nothing) almost like there is no battery in it. I have cleaned the battery and connections are good. The other night when it happened i was checking battery connections it didn't change. I left it alone for a few minutes and the hood light started to have a dim flicker that would last a few seconds and quit.

Sometimes when i try to start it i get nothing no clicking or any noise but lights and dinging are doing their thing like usual. When this happens i leave key in the "ON" position and jump solenoid on the firewall and it fires right up. It has been doing this for a few months now. It's not my DD so when it wont start i just hop in other vehicle.


Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Your choices are:

1. Bad battery.
2. Bad battery cable connection (either end).
3. Bad battery cable (internal, rotted).

That's it.

Google 'Voltage drop test'

You have to test them under load.

 

Thanks! Will do that this weekend.

 

Mine started doing the same thing this week. I had replaced the battery negative side clamp connector when I bought the truck in 2009. The clamp was not making a good connection. Cleaned it up a little and it starts normally now. I am going to replace the connector anyway. It doesn't seem to be clamping the cable adequately.

 

I know it's not cheap and a PITA, but when the terminals go bad, I much prefer to replace the whole cable rather than using a repair terminal.