Clicking Relays

[OldTurtle]

I have a 2004 Sport Trac Adrenaline that sat idle all summer and the battery died. After jump starting it and driving around a bit to charge up the battery, an erratic clicking noise started up in the driver’s wheel well above the gas pedal. It continued to click even after the key was turned off and removed. I finally disconnected the battery.

When I reconnected, the battery was dead again. Replaced the battery with new, clicking back again. After digging around under the dash I found a relay block with 3 relays: 2 small black ones that were very hot to the touch and a blue square one. Found out that the blue one was the culprit and doing a Google search on part number, said it was for blinkers. Bought a new and installed, now it sounds like the blinkers are constantly blinking. With key removed I can turn on blinkers with lever. Black relays still quite hot. Disconnected new battery and now trying to figure next step.

Long dissertation, but I can’t find a post on here with the same problem, figured I’d better be specific. Any ideas?

 

[BKennedy]

I don't know much about that year Ford, but you have a short in the wiring. If you don't have any experience with wiring, and don't have a diagram for your vehicle, I would strongly suggest you take it to a shop. Whatever you do, don't hook up the battery again until you get it repaired.

 

[AZtracMAN]

I can help with this as my 04 trac was having the same issue. Not sure where I found it out it took quite a bit of searching (and experimenting replacing stuff I thought was the issue) but the issue is the GROUND cable from battery to the starter. I replaced all my grounds body to frame and the battery to frame as well as I upgraded my stereo. But I believe that that the main ground to the starter was the cure for the clicking relay issue. As I recall the replacement cable from ford was less than $40 but don’t quote me on that. Hope this helps.