Click but no start.

[Frank Wilson]

I went to start her today and nothing. Electronics and all were fine. Battery was 12.5 volts. I did put her on a charger for a 2 hours.

When I came out to start her, same thing. I checked fuses and all were fine. On a whim, I kept turning the key from off to start a few times and boom, she fired up. Could my ignition switch be the issue?

Replaced the starter less than a year ago, so I don't believe that's the issue.

The battery is a 6 year old motorcraft though.

 

[riphip]

I would have the battery load tested. 6yr on even a Motorcraft battery is a call

 

[Trainmaster]

In this order: Battery, as riphip says. Terminals and ground. Starter, which was probably a Mexico rebuild or China imitation. Solenoid, Ignition switch.

My money's on the battery or terminals.

 

[Aspen03]

6 years is a lot even for the best of batteries. May not be the issue currently but I would imagine it's time is coming sooner than later.

I feel like these ignition switches are tough, I don't personally know anyone who has had one fail, out of at least a couple dozen vehicles. Not that it won't but it wouldn't be my first guess. If it's not battery/terminals/cables then you're going to be breaking out the meter and going through the circuit to figure this one out.

 

[GAINMOB]

get the alt checked too...when they "start" to go they do shit like this and you will have lights...until u go out and u get nothing...happened to me before i deployed in 2014

 

[Frank Wilson]

Update:

Battery posts are cleaned ( positive was pretty bad.)

Forescan showed 12.14 volts, but mm showed 12.40.

I ran out to the closest and open store near me ( must be a real gem of an exide at 99$, ) . Hope to swap them tonight when I get home but I have to feed the kids, make lunches, and do some laundry I've been behind on.

I'm not feeling it's the battery considering the voltage, and how it was intermittent.

 

[Frank Wilson]

Update, new battery is in. Still no go.

Could the shift interlock switch cause the same symptom?

What should my next step be?

Thanks ahead of time everyone.

 

[Frank Wilson]

This is b!tchcakes acting up. She was loaded with every option 2007 had for an EL Limited. ( It has remote start but the previous owner shipped and didn't say it had it ) .

 

[Trainmaster]

Rap the starter hard with a hammer or steel pipe and see if it starts.

 

[jeff kushner]

Same thing & symptoms on my 03 EB a few years ago, the culprit was one of the relays in the passenger side kickboard.

I had someone turn the key while I kept my hand over the relays.... so I could feel the active one so I swapped it with another in the panel and the truck ran!

 

[Frank Wilson]

Rap the starter hard with a hammer or steel pipe and see if it starts.

Update:

I had been in denial that a starter less than 1 year old would need the " tappy tap tap " method. Mainly because replacing it the first time was a royal PIA.

I kissed the starter with an Eastwing this morning and she started up.

I should have tried that before starting the thread.

What are the chances that this was a one time malfunction?

( I forgot to mention, I also pulled the kick panel cover and slapped the fuse/relay board like Jeff Kushner mentioned so that could have fixed her also ).?

 

[Allen Hartwig]

my money is on the solenoid. same has happened to me, got starters with lifetime warranty. you're correct top bolt is in the same place as f e big blocks were. sometimes people loose the top bolt

 

[Trainmaster]

As I said... Bet the starter is a Mexican rebuild or a Chinese 100% new starter. My experience is that more than half of these don't make it to two years.

It's the starter.

 

[Grizguy]

I would clean the battery cable ends.. Check the ground cable connection. The connection at the starter and solenoid... 99% of the time..If the battery is good,
you will have fixed the issue..

 

[Machete]

Happened to me. Was the starter and pigtail wiring.

 

[Goofy173]

i'm sure the rebuild is chinese or mexican. I used to have a local shop and all they did was starters and alternators and lifetime warranty but their hard to find now.

 

[Machete]

I got mine at Ford

 

[Frank Wilson]

Its an A-zone starter. I didnt have another option since it's my only ride. It looked cheap. My buddy bought it and brought it to me as a gift.

I knew it was going to be hit or miss, obviously a miss. I have been driving it with it still in it , but had to tap it again at the grocery store.
I did tap only the solenoid that time. So I think that eliminates the starter itself.

The process of replacing it really warranted using oem only.

I misplaced the top bolt somewhere so I don't have one now..

If I replace this starter, I might try using an Allen head bolt for the top. I think it would be easier.

 

[Scott Carden]

6 years is about exactly when those batteries die. Mine had good voltage too. The tabs at the bottom of the plates inside the battery fail. Go to Walmart and get a gold series. The Warrenty is good on them. And they are cheaper than anyone else