Not sure if this is related, but today it was raining. Went out to grab a replacement fog light. Pulled into the garage. Truck was still a little wet, but not bad. Replaced the fog light, done deal.

Later went out to change the oil. Started the truck first to get it warmed up. The truck cranked but didnt start up. It has never done this before. Then tried it again, started up, but stuttered a little bit, and I noticed that all the gauges were all the way down, and bouncing eratically in place. After a few seconds of this, everything worked fine, except the radio would be at full blast and on the AM setting. I didn't lose my FM stations though.

Turned off the truck, waiting a while, started fine. Waited a while longer, and it did the stuttering thing again.

Turned it off, changed the oil, disconnected and connected the battery, turned it back on, stuttering thing again. Went for a test drive, everything was fine. Got back home, turned it off, turned it back on, didnt do it anymore. Waited about 30 minutes, went back, turned it on, started up fine.

Any ideas? Was this some sort of [hopefully] temporary problem (short?) caused by some water getting in the fog light connector? I have noticed a slight ideling problem, so I'm going to check out the spark plugs tomorroww, but this starting problem seemed bigger than a slight ideling issue.

2006 XLT 4.6

 

I had the same type of problem sputtering at start up gauges freaking out and the radio does the same thing. Mine does it every once in a while, did it the other day but no rain though. Hope someone else knows, I would like to find out as well.

 

Go get your battery load tested.

 

Did the same thing this morning.

Went out to pick up a fuel filter and bought some light bulb grease.

Used my girlfriends blow dryer to get everything near the socket, in the socket, and on the plug nice and dry. Put the grease on and plugged it back in.

Disconnected the battery, changed the fuel filter (wow that front connector is a PITA), reconnected the battery, started it up, and it started fine. Tried again, again started fine.

Hopefully it wont give me issues again.

 

i agree with the battery testing. these things can go without warning. you can get the test free and give yourself peace of mind.

 

check the battery

 

Did the same thing yesterday. Went to have my battery checked, and sure enough it was bad. Hasn't done it since. Thanks for the suggestion.