A few minutes after I get back from town today I go to start the truck. Nothing but a click. Replaced starter and that didn't fix it. Looked at the eye on the battery and it was red(red = bad, green = good?). Please let me know if it could be somehting besides the battery. Tried to jumpstart and that didn't work. I know I have power because the lights and everything else work.

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1997 XLT Teal 4.6L Flareside 4x4. Automatic, Reg. cab, tinted windows, bug deflector, Dual exhaust, K&N Generation 2 air filter, BullDog keyless entry/remote start(installed myself), Custom 16" wheels, bedliner, Covercraft tonneau cover, electronic shift on the fly. Going to add headers.

 

get a new battery. red is bad! green is good! try that first. i replaced my battery just a month ago. It was cranking slow in the morning so i thought it was time to change.

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1997 f150 xlt black extended cab 4.6, 4x2 auto limited slip
mercon v, k&n filter
load lok liner.
17 inch tires saw blade rims goodyear at/s
vent visors
nerf bars black
door crack drivers door

looking for front bush guard for future mod

 

RED? Wow I thought they just went black when the battery wasn't good? Anyway a dead battery, or a battery with welded plates will behave like you mentionned with the boosting cables. The battery will suck all the power and the truck still won't start!

I would have had the battery tested before replacing the starter! Can you get a lift to a local garage or dealership? If so bring your battery for testing.

I guess I'm lucky, my truck is still on the same battery and it's a 97 also

 

BTW James, your truck is freaking nice! I love the colour and wheels

 

Sounds like battery problem. After a battery gets around 4-5 years old it can konk out at any time and often it is very abrupt (ie no warning).
I have seen batteries go bad but still show decent voltage. It just could not draw enough Amps to start the vehicle (may explain why your lights still work)

you battery is getting old, even if it is not bad, it will not hurt to replace anyway. it may save you some heartache down the road

 

Thanks for the warning, I will check it out ASAP! I can get batteries at cost price so its no prob for me

 

Those dumb "eyes" never work right. I had one that was solid green, and had same problem. Had it tested, and it was bad. Don't go by those things. Also, check all of your connections. Both battery cables, ground wire to engine block, starter fuses and relays. Also, check the cables going to and from the starter solenoid on the firewall. Could be any one of these. Don't rule out the possibility of a bad battery though.

[This message has been edited by lariat4wd (edited 02-20-2001).]

 

Do these trucks have starter solenoids like the older models have. If so you may want to check that. It used to be a $15 part

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2000 F-150, XLT, SC, 5.4, 4X4, 355 LS, ORP, Black/Silver, class III, single CD, sliding glass, med. gray, keyless, elect. shift, engine date 8-18-99, Superchip. '93 Harley Fatboy Black & tons of chrome

 

KJ, I just replaced the battery in my '97 2 weeks ago. That useless eye was still green, but I tested it and and it was definitely bad.

 

With regards to checking the green light. I know my boat batteries have the same thing. But, there is a sticker that states the eye must be in sunlight inorder to work correctly. I can have a dead battery and it will show a green tint when it is in the boat. I open the cover and let some light hit it. Come back in a little while and the light turns black. Maybe this is only deep cycle batteries I don't know.

 

The "eye" is only in one cell of the battery, so unless that particular cell discharges, you won't really know. Also, the eye won't tell you if a cell shorts out since the eye just measures the density of the electrolyte. If the cell was fully charged, then it shorts out, the specific gravity will still be high.

Don't our trucks have a starter relay? It could be that.

To check the battery, put a volt meter on it. Fully charged, it should be around 13.8 volts. When you try to start the truck, the voltage drops. I have no idea how far. Maybe somebody else knows?

 

How can I test the battery myself?

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1997 XLT Teal 4.6L Flareside 4x4. Automatic, Reg. cab, tinted windows, bug deflector, Dual exhaust, K&N Generation 2 air filter, BullDog keyless entry/remote start(installed myself), Custom 16" wheels, bedliner, Covercraft tonneau cover, electronic shift on the fly. Going to add headers.

 

Same problem on my 88 Mustang, Lights would come on but just click, No jump start either, So I took the battery out of my truck, Fired up. That is the easy way to check it, Just go get a new one, Your truck is a 97, is that the original battery, Maybe you can barrow one from a friend just to test, even if it does not fit right you will know what the problem is or is not. My motorcycle did this two years ago. Running fine and went to start it, click, battery was toast.

it happens.

PS. you have good tasts in trucks, check mine out...


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Don W
97 F150 4X4 XLT, ORP, Tow Package,
CD-Changer, K&N, B&M shift improver,
PIAA fog lights, Weld Rims 17", 265 70LT AT/S, Flowmaster 40 series 3" cat back.
f1504x4.hompeage.com

 

u need a volt meter to check your battery voltage go to kragens they do a free batery test and check for stater draw and alternator load test too

 

Battery, starter relay and starter and good.

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1997 XLT Teal 4.6L Flareside 4x4. Automatic, Reg. cab, tinted windows, bug deflector, Dual exhaust, K&N Generation 2 air filter, BullDog keyless entry/remote start(installed myself), Custom 16" wheels, bedliner, Covercraft tonneau cover, electronic shift on the fly. Going to add headers.