- Joined
- July 26, 2004
- Messages
- 4,982
- Reaction score
- 24
- City, State
- Willow Grove, PA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '97 XLT
Hey all. I haven't been around in a while but rest assured, the truck is alive and well (mostly).
I'm hoping someone (anyone!) can help me out with a problem I've been having. Here goes:
During a very cold spell in December I accidentally left my aux lights on and then left on a business trip - killed the sh*t out of my battery. Try as I might, there was no way to bring it back to life. I replaced the battery with a brand new one, all good.
After the new battery was installed, I found that I could only get the truck started intermittently. A shop I took it to discovered that it was the starter solenoid acting up - I could put the key in the run position and bridge the leads on the solenoid and it would start right up.
So I buy a new relay and bring it to the shop. They replace the solenoid and now the truck won't start at ALL. Battery is fine, solenoid is fine. They switch back to the old solenoid. Still no luck. They trace it to the ignition switch. They replace the ignition switch, give me a new key, and go back to the new solenoid and everything is fine. Problem solved! Wheeeeee!
.....Fast forward to this past weekend, I take it in to get new tires mounted and balanced, go to pick it up and BOOM. Won't start again. Battery is fine, full health, can't jump it. What happens is, when I turn the key, I hear a single "click". Power to everything is fine, and I can't start it by jumping the solenoid either. Has to be the ignition switch again, right?
So this morning I get it towed to the shop who did the ignition switch. They pull it off the tow truck, push it into the bay, hop inside - BOOM - starts right up like nothing is wrong. They drive it around and test it all day, no problems. Starts up every time.
So at this point, I'm at a loss. Battery is fine, solenoid is fine. If it was a bad ignition switch or starter, it wouldn't magically work again with no explanation. Does anyone have ANY ideas or can offer any help? Does anyone know of an "ace" mechanic that specializes in electrical work in the Philadelphia area?
My thoughts: There has to be a wire broken inside somewhere. That's the only explanation I could think of for it not starting, then being jostled around on a flatbed and suddenly starting with no issues.
At this point, if it happens again, I'm going to get it towed to a Ford dealer and tell them to not call me back until they find the issue. I'm exasperated and this entire thing is maddening. I need this truck to be reliable. I can't worry about whether it's going to start or not every time I take it out. Any thoughts, suggestions, or help greatly appreciated....
I'm hoping someone (anyone!) can help me out with a problem I've been having. Here goes:
During a very cold spell in December I accidentally left my aux lights on and then left on a business trip - killed the sh*t out of my battery. Try as I might, there was no way to bring it back to life. I replaced the battery with a brand new one, all good.
After the new battery was installed, I found that I could only get the truck started intermittently. A shop I took it to discovered that it was the starter solenoid acting up - I could put the key in the run position and bridge the leads on the solenoid and it would start right up.
So I buy a new relay and bring it to the shop. They replace the solenoid and now the truck won't start at ALL. Battery is fine, solenoid is fine. They switch back to the old solenoid. Still no luck. They trace it to the ignition switch. They replace the ignition switch, give me a new key, and go back to the new solenoid and everything is fine. Problem solved! Wheeeeee!
.....Fast forward to this past weekend, I take it in to get new tires mounted and balanced, go to pick it up and BOOM. Won't start again. Battery is fine, full health, can't jump it. What happens is, when I turn the key, I hear a single "click". Power to everything is fine, and I can't start it by jumping the solenoid either. Has to be the ignition switch again, right?
So this morning I get it towed to the shop who did the ignition switch. They pull it off the tow truck, push it into the bay, hop inside - BOOM - starts right up like nothing is wrong. They drive it around and test it all day, no problems. Starts up every time.
So at this point, I'm at a loss. Battery is fine, solenoid is fine. If it was a bad ignition switch or starter, it wouldn't magically work again with no explanation. Does anyone have ANY ideas or can offer any help? Does anyone know of an "ace" mechanic that specializes in electrical work in the Philadelphia area?
My thoughts: There has to be a wire broken inside somewhere. That's the only explanation I could think of for it not starting, then being jostled around on a flatbed and suddenly starting with no issues.
At this point, if it happens again, I'm going to get it towed to a Ford dealer and tell them to not call me back until they find the issue. I'm exasperated and this entire thing is maddening. I need this truck to be reliable. I can't worry about whether it's going to start or not every time I take it out. Any thoughts, suggestions, or help greatly appreciated....