SEE IF YOU GUYS CAN FIGURE THIS ONE OUT. I WILL TRY TO EXPLAIN THIS TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. I HAVE A 97 F150 5 SPEED V-6. THE PROBLEM IS WITH STARTING, WHEN I RUN THE TRUCK FOR LONG DISTANCES AND SHUT IT OFF ( GO INTO CONVENIENCE STORE) AND THEN TRY TO CRANK IT BACK UP, IT WON'T TURN OVER. HOWEVER IF I RUN IT ONLY SHORT DISTANCES OR LET IT SET WHEN IVE DRIVEN LONG DISTANCES IT WILL CRANK WITHOUT A PROBLEM. iVE CHECKED THE VOLTAGE ON THE BATTERY WITHOUT THE TRUCK CRANKED - 12.5V. WITH THE TRUCK RUNNING AND AIR ON IT PUMPS OUT ALMOST 14.0V. SO TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY ARE GOOD. CAN SOMETHING BE GETTING HOT OR DRAINING THE BATTERY ON THOSE LONGER DRIVES? I DON'T KNOW PLEASE HELP

 

Check the cables going to the starter for corrosion. After a while corrosion wicks up the cable and causes starting problems.

JMC

 

Thats a good point. Check the starter cable but if that isn't it I have seen times when a starter would not crank an engine over when it gets hot. It could be a sign that the starter is headed south on you but the only way to really know that is to have the starter tested somewhere.

Hope that helps