I have an 01 F250 4x4 with 140,000 miles and it wont crank at all, only clicks. My first thought was the starter as lights and all functions still work, although the battery was from 2014. I took the battery to Pep Boys to have them check it and they said it was fully charged but hit the floor when they put a load on it. The battery is now brand new but isn't the issue. I tried hitting the solenoid with a hammer while my son tried to start it. All it does is click so I'm thinking that it must be the starter. Any advice would be great as I don't feel like playing with a starter in the cold out in my driveway if that's not going to be it. Worked fine yesterday a few times but I know that really means nothing.
Thank you!!!

 

What engine? 5.4l, 6.8l, or 7.3l? Manual or Automatic?

Have you thoroughly cleaned the cables before putting them on the new battery?

If it's Automatic, trying jiggling the shifter to make sure it's in Park. Better yet, try starting it in Neutral.

If it's Manual, make sure there are no obstructions getting the clutch completely to the floor. Other option is, try push starting it. If it starts, then you can start looking elsewhere. Don't try this on the automatic -- you won't get anywhere.

 

Its an auto 5.4. I tried in Neutral as this shifter is a pain in the *** sometimes getting it in the right gear. Someone told me how to fix that but haven't yet and its getting worse, something about under the dash in a tight spot but don't remember. I was just looking at the wiring diagrams to see if its the relay but that contact feeds both solenoid and starter motor so clicking there kinda rules that out for me. Ill go out and go over the battery connection again to be sure.

 

Can you turn the engine over by hand with a breaker bar on the crank pulley bolt?

 

OK.

Another thing to do is look at the starter connections. Look to see what condition they are in. Sometimes they look OK on the outside, but have crud where they connect. Takes but a few minutes to take them off, wire brush them, then stick them back on.

Apparatus like a starter take a lot of power, and needs good, tight connections for it to properly work.

 

I just cleaned the terminals and connectors again and no change. I didn't try to turn the motor by hand at all as I wouldn't suspect any issue there as far as the motor binding. Are you thinking the starter is not engaging on the flexplate?

 

If your starter wasn't engaging on the flex plate, you'd hear it spin.

glc wants you to check to see if your actual engine is seized up. Which is a very good idea.

 

I just checked and it turns nice and easy.

 

Bypass as much stuff as you can. Ideally, hook a remote starter switch to the solenoid on top of the starter. Also is your battery good, ie do the headlights shine bright?

 

Battery is brand new, thought that was the issue this morning as Pep Boys guy tested it and said full charge but it dumped when he put a load on it. The lights all working was my only apprehension this morning and any time I ever lost a battery on this truck I would get a couple weeks of slow starts but being so cold the last couple weeks and the battery being from 2014 I figured it was time.

 

Some other things to look at are the relays and the fuses. Make sure that none of them are popped or not working.

 

I'm looking in the wiring manual and I cant see where the starter relay is located.

 

My question is, if its clicking at the starter wouldn't it mean the relay is good?

 

The relay should be behind and above the engine on the firewall. The solenoid is mounted directly on top of the starter. NOTE: the terms solenoid and relay are often interchanged.

 

Yes I know as they both work the same way although a solenoid doesn't have contacts as a relay does. Ill look for the relay later.