Has this ever happened to anyone? 1997 F150 4X4 5.4L.

98% of the time the truck will start up fine, either cold or hot. The other 2% of the time it will not start. Turn the key over and you don't even hear the starter click.

Two weeks ago, I left work at lunch to run over to the Hardware store, spent about 20 minutes inside then jumped in the truck to leave, turned the key and nothing. I waited about 10 minutes, turned the key and it started right up. It has been doing this for the past 3 months. The other day after work, I stopped to get gas, ran in to pay and came out to start the truck and nothing. I waited for 30 minutes, still nothing. I had it towed to the dealer.

Called the service guy and told him the problem, he ran out to check the truck and verified that it still would not start. Later in the afternoon when the mechanic started to work on it, it started. They had the truck for 2 days and couldn't duplicate the problem.

Does anyone have any ideas?

 

hmm maybe its a million things.. your starter is going bad.. battery could be dying. simple electrical problem somewhere .!? ignition problem maybe driving around gets somethign loose or something dunno ..... if your truck is under warranty still make those foos fix it.

my 2 cents ... hehe even though they are worth less than that

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F150 97 4.6 v8 longbed
K&N Air filter
Hyper White xenon bulbs
Bedliner and Shell
6 disc cd changer

 

I had a similar problem on my '97 F250 a few weeks back. It ended up being a loose connection on the starter motor.

 

Sounds like a classic starter solenoid problem to me. If not that, a problem with ignition switch. If it was a problem with the starter, you would still hear the solenoid "clicking". Hope this helps

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BigBunnell

98 F150 4X4 XLT flareside V6 5sp K&N Flowmaster and some other goodies

 

My last truck did the same thong. The problem was that the starter was going out. Did not figure it out until the start went out completly. After I put in a new one never had the problem again

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2000 F-150 Ext cab
Toredo Red
4.2l V6
Flowmaster 40 series single in dual outK&N aif filter
Mobil1 Synthetic

 

When it won't start, do you have power to the dome lights,and panel. If not check the battery cables to make sure they are tight.More than likely it is a loose connection at the starter. Good luck.

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1999 F150 Lariat
5.4 L. 3.55 LS Black & Harvest Gold
Superchipped, Flomaster
K&N Air Filter.Leather Captian's chairs
Snugtop,Gold Kit, wood trim

 

You are in luck! This very problem happened to me on my truck and I found the problem. In my truck, it would start just fine and then sometimes I'd hear a loud CLICK and that was it. The battery meter was fine and the lights were not dimming at all. If this is what your truck does, here is the problem. The connection from the battery to your starter motor is probably corroded, which is causing an increase in resistance. If you want to clean it yourself, it's not hard.

Disconnect the ground from your battery, crawl under the truck and look at the starter motor, Pull the red plastic cap off the back of the starter motor, disconnect the large red cable (11 or 13 mm socket, I forget which one) clean the terminal and the bolt with a wire brush or dremel tool until you see clean copper on everything, reconnect all connections and you are good to go. To prevent future corrosion, you can coat the connections with vaseline or something like that after you tighten every thing down again.

 

Yep, I'd agree with A.D. and Tim,
same thing happened on wifes Explorer. I thought it was starter - put in new one - no change. I startes wiggling battery cables and the positive almost fell off due to the corrosion builup. Put on new cable and voila'

 

Thanks all. . . .I'll crawl under the truck and check the supply wires to the starter. Details to follow.