1999 expedition- Total loss of power when I turn the key.

[PocolocoBob]

1999 expedition- I turn my ignition then all power goes out in the truck. I have to disconnect the battery to reset it. I sometimes can avoid the problem if I firmly push the gearshift into park prior to turning the key. Anybody have any ideas?


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[bedrck46]

try putting the gear shift in neutral and see what happens

 

[bedrck46]

have attached wiring diagram of the starting system

 

[Lightnig]

I had a similar issue on my 97 last year.

Most times it would start and run fine, but every now and then I'd hit the key and nothing - completely dead. I'd pull the ground cable off the battery, reconnect, and it would be fine for the next few starts...


The battery terminals were so corroded that the crap had actually worked it's way up inside the cable, and there would come a point where no power would come from the battery at all. I believe that by my disconnecting the cables and reconnecting them would wiggle enough crap out of the electrical path to allow the truck to start again.


I ended up cutting the ends of both battery cables back 2 - 3 inches to get to clean and clear copper, then crimped and soldered on new cable lugs and changed out the terminals for marine style screw down posts (to make it easier to connect my winch and driving lights).

Never had the problem since.

 

[IMINYOURCHAIR]

Had a similiar problem. except it was from painted terminals likely from autozone. ALL of the current was trying to go through a thin plate on the back of the terminal then through a bolt about 1/5 the size of the wire then to the battery. the bolt melted sorta... I replaced the bolt and cleaned off the paint. I want to get new terminals and get some fresh wire but both wires are already so tight I can't cut any off unless I don't want them to ever reach the battery again.