2003 F-150 5.4 Problem
2003 F-150 5.4 Problem
So yesterday I finished installing my programmer onto my truck, my battery acted like it didn't have enough power to start the truck so I went and got another battery after we jump started it. The new battery had more cranking amps then the ORIGINAL had but nothing to big. Anyways the starter is now giving us crap, when we try it the thing will every so often turn over but not all the way and the noise it makes is just a clicking and spinning sound. I did think it was the programmer at first but we tested that out by jump starting it with and without it programmer so its not that. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 447
Likes: 3
From: Houston,Tx
Try the solenoid??? Starters on fords dont usually go bad. The solenoids are the culprits 99% of the time.
Did it act before install of the programer or after the install??
Its not unusual for a solenoid to go bad when you replace a battery. They get use to the low voltage,,, then when you give it the proper voltage it doesnt know what to do. Its rather annoying to me!!!! Replace the battery and think you fixed the problem,, then the other shoe drops and it wont start cause the solenoid stopped working.
good luck
Did it act before install of the programer or after the install??
Its not unusual for a solenoid to go bad when you replace a battery. They get use to the low voltage,,, then when you give it the proper voltage it doesnt know what to do. Its rather annoying to me!!!! Replace the battery and think you fixed the problem,, then the other shoe drops and it wont start cause the solenoid stopped working.
good luck
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,522
Likes: 6
From: Utah
If the starter is spining but hot engaging either the starter is bad or you've lost a chunk of teeth on the flywheel. Ford starters rarely do fail as has been pointed out but it is possible. Try tuning the engine a little bit by hand put a socket on the center Damper pulley bolt or just try to turn it with the serpentine belt. Generally iif you short the big post to the small post on the firewall relay(aka solenoid) with a screw driver and the starter engages the relay is bad..
The new battery is a duralast I think and it has two rectangular caps on the top that if you tilt it, it all spills and thats what happened to me. So Im taking it back to get another. But yall are saying the solenoid could be the reason its acting up on me?