1999 Ford Battery/Starter

[loadmaster]

1999 Ford F-150 4x4, 4.6 Eng. Got truck out today for use this summer. Sat all winter but did start it early in the season. Put charger on to 100%. Truck would not start. Tried different battery with same results. Just get a lot of clicking. Checked all connections. Do get lights and everything electrical, but when starting I lose everything. I am thinking I have a stuck starter. So my question is this, How do I know which is bad do not want to buy new battery if starter is frozen or new starter if battery is bad. Thsnks

[Jaspernuts]

Have you tried banging on the starter with a hammer while someone else tries to start it?

[Jeremy airjer W]

If it's a single click it's likely the starter or starter solenoid.

With a trouble light or voltmeter make sure there is power on both wires of the starter with the key in the crank position. If there is than the starter is bad (unless the motor is seized).

[loadmaster]

Tried tapping the starter but to no cranking. Lots of clicks. Since it is clutched, we pulled it and popped the clutch and started fine, Drove it around, parked it and still get a no crank situation. Battery might be the way to go.

[Jeremy airjer W]

If it is a series of rapid clicks when you hold the key in the crank position than I would agree that the battery is to low to crank the engine over. A set of jumper cables should confirm this.

[loadmaster]

Put it on the charger to full charge then used the start option on charger and still nothing.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I'm guessing your charger is not a heavy duty one with some pretty thick cables capable of putting out 60+ amps?

[delcecchi]

You didn't try jumper cables or swapping batteries?

[loadmaster]

No jumpers but did swap battries

[delcecchi]

Still no luck with swapped batteries? Eliminates one possibility.

[Surface Tension]

The positive cable to the starter could be corroded, that location is the small section of exposed wire between the solenoid connector and insulation. Had that happen on a 98.

Take a jumper cable and connect it to the same location as the positive cable on the starter solenoid.

Connect the other end to the + on battery. Get in the truck and hit the key.