I got my truck a few months ago, 2006 F150 5.4 4x4. And on occasion when i go to start the truck, it sounds like it's turning over but then it doesnt start. So i immediatly try to start it again and it starts, but sounds like it's just barely started, feels and sounds very weak. This has happened about 5 or 6 times in the 3 months i've had the truck. I wrote it off as nothing the first couple of times it happened, i figured i just tried to start it to quick and did not turn the key all the way. But after it happened to me again today i realize this is definetly not the case and something has to be wrong. I had a few different stores to stop at, and each time i got back in the truck it started pretty week, like it was almost not going to start again. Then after letting it sit for a quite a while, it started normally again.

Has anyone ever experienced this or know what it could be and why its doing this? I figured i'd post here before going through the hassel of dealing with my dealer and extended warranty.

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

 

try a fuel pump leak down test.

 

Sounds like you have the same problem I did in my 05 4.6l.

One day, the starter just completely **** the bed. Brought it to Ford, they installed another... and a few months after I go to turn the truck off and the starter engages and keeps spinning, eventually burning itself out and leaving me in fail-safe mode on the side of the road.

Had it towed to my friends shop this time around and we installed an aftermarket starter... haven't had any problems since.

 

Have you seen the size of that starter? When mine did the same thing, I replaced it with an aftermarket and the truck has started great ever since. My motorcycle has a bigger starter!

 

Ok, so something different happened today. When i went to start the truck, it sounded like a quick loud grind. Sort of like when you try to turn the key when the trucks already on. Has anyone every experienced this as well?

So, with all the above issue's, and now this. Sounds like i need a new starter.

 

Yep, and replace it before you damage the ring gear.

I suppose it *could* be corroded or loose connections, not allowing enough current to flow to fully engage the starter...........

 

Alright, well i have an appointment at my dealer to have this looked at. I actually just found out today that i do not need to use my extended service plan that i bought from the dealership. I was not aware that the Factory Warranty still applied even though i bought the truck used, but i called Ford and apparently it transferred over to my truck. My truck was built on Oct 10 2006, so i still have over a year left of the Bumper to Bumper Warranty, and plenty of time left on the PowerTrain Warranty. And another thing Ford told me was that my truck already had an ESP on it as well, which was bought by the previous owner. So i can pay $50 to have that transferred over and just cancel the one i got from the dealership, so that saves me almost $2000!

Definetly a bit of good news today, now hopefully they fix the starter issue up for me with no hassel.

 

Did they ever fix the issue for you?

 

Sounds like the plug fell apart - inside the cylinder.

Two very big issues working against you. Injector leakage and bad plugs (factory).

The first thing I do if I purchased a 3 valve is change both plugs and injectors.

Ford has the injectors and Champion makes a one piece plug for those. I don't think Motorcraft does yet.

 

huh, im confused???

 

Plug = Spark Plug, they break in that model.

Injector leakage = Injectors are what petrol flows thru, governed by the PCM. That style have had leakage problems in the past. Meaning they leak after shutdown until the rail depressurizes and just before start whn the pump presurizes the rail. Can cause crank no start issues. The PCM's programed to shut down the injectors after 5 seconds of cranking

 

That is quite a diagnosis!

 

It's old news really. The plug problem started with the first year 3 valves (2004). The injector issues started in 2005 models - It got so bad and common, Ford extended the warranty on all the injectors to 100,000 miles. That still stands.

 

How did this thread get onto plugs and injectors? Brew, are you sure you replied to the correct thread? Unless I'm missing something, all I see is a starter issue.

 

Damn ! How did I do that ?