the lightning that woundn't start actually started!! what happend?
 

ok, it finally started, this is what i did.

it was 6:30 that night and i gave up, i have a carport that is attatched to the garage, and the lightning was in the spot directly behind my cobra, so i was hungry (felt like chinese) and i wanted to get some before the basketball games, so i said screw this stupid truck, so i put it in neutral, tryed to move it by hand enough to get the cobra out, but it would barely budge, so i said i'll show you, and i put a big fluffy mat on the bumper of the cobra (attached by the trunck) and proceeded to back the cobra up until touching the lightning, so i pushed the lightning back about 8-10 feet, i then moved the cobra out ready to go, i came back inside to get my money, checked the computer, and found that someone told me to do something with the steering column, so i said what the hell i'll go one more time, so i go outside hop in the truck, turn the key and all of a sudden it started, idled at about 1300 rpm's for 60-90 seconds, and then went to idle at regular like 600 or so.

so what the hell happened???

all i did was jack up the back to check stuff, put it down, move it back 10ft, and that was it...... what could have been the problem???

...bet it wasn't completely in park.... :wave:

...been there, done that...Got the T-Shirt :rolleyes:

Who knows, i get stuff towed in to me at work all the time and it cranks right up when the tow truck drops it.

key word is "drops it" ;)

ok, ok , drops it off. :D

wait, i meant, softly sets it down.

but if it wasn't totally in park....... why would it rev and rev and rev and not start...... i thought if its not totally in park you can't even turn the key....

true, u could turn the key but it would not crank, was the theft light flashing?
-do u have an aftermarket alarm?

jim

Sometimes the Pats or the theft system can go a little screwy. It happened to me once, I kept trying to start it with no luck.

I left it alone for a while and it started right up. It has never done it since. I have heard the pats will reset itself after a while.

I'll tell you what that is....sounds like you have a problem with the nuetral safety swtich that is mounted on the trans over the shift linkage shaft. It is a big black plastic piece that is there to prevent the vehicle from starting if it is not in nuetral. It is either faulty or may need to be adjusted slightly which is easy to do (loosen a couple bolts and move it a bit). If it is under warranty, let them check it out. If it happens again, move the column shift lever to drive and back to park and see what happens.

Tom

These pictures speak for themselves I think....

If this is your problem the only way to find it is to either look at it or measure it while the vehicle is failing to start.. most of the time when you have the vehicle towed in for service it will vibrate it enough to make a connection and then the vehicle will start right up.

The pcb is supposed to be soldered to the leads.... not just pushed inside a cover. All you have to do is solder this part in IF its your problem.

Pictures:
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...1119-49332.jpg

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...1119-49334.jpg

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...1119-49331.jpg

................

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...1119-49333.jpg

If your having trouble and you can't track it down else where I would check this out.

Johnie

Question... doesn't the neutral safety switch prevent the motor from turning over at all? I was under the impression that it did...

Where can I get my t-shirt? :):banana:

Surely he would have noticed if the THEFT light was flashing rapidly. Here is the way i diag one without any of my ford tools.

1 if it spins over, rule out the nuetral safety, and stuff like that.

2 does the check engine light come on with the key on?
- if so, then the PCM relay is working and the PCM is powered up. If not, its never going to start.

3 does the THEFT indicator light for 3 seconds and go out?
- if so, then PATS is not your problem. If it flashes fast, its never gonna start, and you have to take the key out for 30 seconds for it to ever ever work correctly.

4 does the check engine light stay on or go out when the engine is spun?
- if it stays on, then there is no CKP input to the PCM (crank sensor is not working to the pcm) again, its never gonna start.
- if it goes out while spinning the engine over, you have CKP to the PCM and at that point you can be assured that the injectors are firing, and the coils are firing, and you can start worrying about whether the fuel pump is running and if you have fuel pressure. If you do have fuel pressure (check it at the schrader valve), then you need to do a wide open throttle spin (clear flood) for about 10-15 sec. , and then retry starting it with the throttle cracked about half open.

if you can answer these questions, you just about diagnose it without any tools.

been there done that oh too many times:thumbsup: