***This post will be a short write-up as FYI. It will not be as detailed as most posts.***
This vehicle, 05' Ford F150 5.4, came into the shop with a customer concern of a no crank/no start condition. Let me first give you the details of the complaint history.
The customer stated he had driven the truck as he normally does and parked it in the garage. The truck sat in the garage for a day or two. When he went out the next time to drive it, the truck would not crank over. When he would turn the key to the start position nothing would happen. He checked the battery and it was good.
He and a friend checked out a few fuses and a few other things but could not find the problem.
He called me and had the vehicle hauled to the shop.
When the truck arrived at my shop the battery was down (from the customer trying to start it numerous times); so, first things first, I replaced the battery. It was time to perform some diagnostic tests on this vehicle.
Next, I had an assistant turn the key to the start position and probed the wires at the starter solenoid. I found there was no voltage to the starter solenoid, it had ground all the time.
I then pulled a wiring diagram and checked the pertinent fuses for the starting circuit. All tested good. Next, I used a relay tester and checked the circuitry at the starter relay. I noticed the contacts that normally should show a ground when the key is not in the start position, were showing nothing at all.
The fuses and relays are located behind the kick panel on the right (passenger) side. See the picture below:
Next, I checked the fuses for the PCM and all were good. I had tried communicating with it with my scan tool, but had received an error message for "No Communication".
I then tested the PCM relay and found the problem. The PCM relay was not working. It had power to the relay, but the relay was not internally switching. I bench tested the relay and the first couple of times it tested faulty. I tapped it lightly a few times and it came to life.
In the pictures below is the relay:
I replaced the relay with a new one.
In the pictures below you will see where the relay is located in panel. (It is number 203 on the cover legend.)
Viola, the truck then cranked over and started right up!
Tim you are a genius! Thank you so much for this helpful article. It is 3:30 am on a night before one of my final exams for the semester and I was very worried when I went out and my 05 4.6 F-150 wouldn't start. Came back in and was doing research online that was pointing to starter and wiring issues. I was scared that I was going to be getting into a project when I came across this article. Went out and gave the relay a flick and a wiggle and it started right up! I'll get myself a new one tomorrow but for now you've saved a college boy's life. Thanks again!
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Having the same problem but when I replaced the relay it still happens. I do notice that the relay prongs are discolored as well as a few of the other relays prongs and some of the fuses. Any clue bc I'm stumped. If you were close by I would bring it to you. The mechanics around here are not the best and the dealership is always way to expensive.
ReplyDeleteThanks Darus
By the way it's a 2008 f150 with 5.4 king ranch.
ReplyDeleteHi Darus, sorry for such a late response. Your reply got lost in my email notifications, which was my fault. When you say "discolored" what do you mean? Do the prongs look greenish or another color? If they appear "greenish" you may have an issue, which I have seen before, of water intrusion. Though this is usually accompanied with other "strange behaviors" as well. If you are still needing help, let me know.
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ReplyDeleteCheck your starter. Although this originally solved my problem, it turned out to be short term. A few months later the problem came back up. It ended up being my starter had come loose. I tightened it up and haven't had an issue since.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update, Darren. Sorry, I missed seeing your post back in May. So, you're saying the wire to your starter had worked loose? Also, while we are updating, I checked with the customer of the truck in this post about 2 or 3 months back, and she said everything is still working great!
ReplyDeleteEager to try this thank you very much !
ReplyDeleteI have a 2004 f150 5.4 new body style. It's doing the same thing as all the above post. I put new starter on. Still no start. Power to starter, good ground. No power on solinod. Went to fuse box. Rang out all fuses that go to the start/ stop/ pcm . Found all is good. I had bad corrosion on the power lead coming from the battery to the starter, had to replace the end connector and then attach it back to the starter. I'm thinking the solenoid cable wire may have a break in it somewhere I need to find out where that cable starts or that wire starts from I know it ends at the solenoid on the starter. I have read all the post I will check that PCM relay.
ReplyDeleteI had same problem tried the realy, didnt work, read on some post to put it in 2nd and rock it back an forth and it started right up after that, I went back to reread the post to see what the problem was but could not find it, any idea what my problem may be?
ReplyDeleteI have a starter problem I hope someone may be able to help me.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago I replaced the timing set on my 2005 f150 5.4. While I was in it up to my elbows, I did a bunch of preventative maintenance. Replaced a few things and one of them was the starter. There was nothing wrong with it. I had 120k.+ and thought I’d just replace it. Well, that starter would spin but not always engage the fly wheel. 9 times out of ten it would start up no problem, but then it would just spin and not engage flywheel. So, I replaced that first starter. Same problem. Replaced that starter a few months later and have the same problem with #3. I have replaced: battery , battery cables that run to starter, ignition switch. I am at a loss of what to do next. Could I have an intermittent starter relay??
Any help appreciated
Good morning Tim. I have a 2008 f150 5.4 L and I am having similar issue except my starter grinds on the flywheel. I’ve already had the flywheel and starter replaced. There is no rhyme or reason when it does this. I can go 2 to 3 weeks and it will not do it at all. The truck only has 70,000 miles. I feel like whatever the issue is I will still need to replace the flywheel again but do not want to do it until the issue is resolved. When it does grind I release the ignition then try to start it again and some times it will start and sometimes it will grind. I have been able to put it in neutral and start it but on the same note sometimes that does not work. When that fails I’ll put it back in park and try and it starts up and a few times I have had to put the truck in gear and push it to advance the flywheel then back in park and it will start. Like I said there is no rhyme or reason every situation is different. Not sure where to go from here.
ReplyDeleteHI,TIM WHERE IS YOUR SHOP LOCATED , I'M IN FLORIDA , I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY TRUCK TOWED TO YOU , I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS , NO CRANK NO START ! I HAVE A FORD F150 5.4 2007 LARIAT WITH A 143, 000 MILES ON IT ! CAN YOU REPLY BACK TO ME , I'M SUPER IMPRESSED WITH YOUR REPLIES BACK TO THE OTHER GUYS WHO REACH OUT TO YOU ! THANKS IN ADVANCE ...RUDY !
ReplyDelete2006 F150 Lariat with 165k miles. Same issue. Replaced my starter in October of 2018 and this week it would not crank. I tapped on the starter and it started. Then, it happened again two days later and I came to this site after reading the levels on my battery and it was being drained to the point of getting to under 13 volts. I charged the battery and removed the negative lead and the battery is good. So i went ahead and pulled #203 and pushed it back in and it has been good since. After I did that, the battery power level remained steady.
ReplyDeleteSeth, did you ever figure out what was causing your grinding problem. I have the same problem but today it has gotta worst. Now, I'm getting dead silence when I turn the key. I've tried the tricks of advancing the flywheel. Thinking of changing the starter which I have not done yet.
ReplyDeleteI have a similar issue , drove it home ok and now won't start key turns and nothing . The radio goes off and the relay is good . I tried shorting the starter but zippo. New battery
ReplyDeleteI have the same issue 2007 f150 XLT, just wouldnt start after leaving the barber shop, it started once, swapped the relay's no change, no anti theft issues, no codes at all, What do you guys think?
ReplyDeleteCHECK YOUR STARTER CABLE @ THE AC LINE FOR WEAR ON THE INSULATION AND ALSO CORROSION OF THE FUEL PUMP DRIVER MODULE ABOVE THE SPARE TIRE WHICH CAN BACK FEED VOLTAGE AND SET THE ANTI-THEFT CIRCUIT OFF AND DAMAGE THE 203 RELAY
ReplyDeleteThank you for your info. It worked. I checked relay and tap it a little and my f 150 started again. I checked starter and battery all morning taking off starter and battery. Lol. Thank you again . love my Ford
ReplyDeleteSame problem , all lights and everything works , swapped out relays and still nothing . Help please
ReplyDelete0k here goes, my back round first. I am 64 started working on cars in high school. do the math about 50 years. shop owner 30 years in NW FL. retired. now helping friends with drive ability problems, now I'm working on a 2005 ford f-150 no start, no crank, no assistant. owner claims everything was running good then 1 day i got the call HELP ME PLEASE. owner states he checked all fuses test good. WRONG I found 6 blown 10, 15, 20, amp fuses and 1 fuse link 30 amp push in blown. that's just a start. replaced the battery with a new one jumped the starter wire to ensure the starter is good. the I watched a couple U-tube vids found out about #203 relay switched it, no go jumped it, no go. useing my power probe (favorite tool ever) checked and applied power fuses #32 33 34, i may not have the numbers correct 3 15 amp fuses top of box between relays 202 201 which still have no power nor do fuse # 35 36 and 23 24 25. wow i'm exhuasted 3 days now. what I found is the owner has no business touching his own truck...!found head light wires cut and twisted together, trailer sub harness the same cut n twisted, tail lights the same. the owner did replace the truck bed himself, i also looked at the fuel pump amplifire it seems 0k. I'm pretty good with driveability but I felt like iwas in a really bad drive through movie. no the only thing I haven't done is pull the fuse box out, I did'nt see any corrosion on any fuses nor signs of a water leak in the cab. PLEASE HELP send me in another direction besides where I'm going PCM is next but i hate to condemn that. expense and probability. PLEASE the last hair on my head is very nervous HELP. Don Oldroyd Import Auto Tech retired, almost.
ReplyDeleteI realize this is an old thread but i am having the exact same problem. Did you ever find a solution. I'm at my wits end with this
DeleteSee if it will start in neutral slam it back to park sometimes neutral safety switch also check your ignition on the bottom of the column where is it plastic box module I've heard they can go
ReplyDeleteGod Bless you mister Unknown
DeleteIn neutral it works.
ReplyDeleteI have a 99 ford f150 4.2,changed the starter,selinoid,n the ignition and have no power at all checked the fuses I'm at my wits e n d
ReplyDeleteMy results, the external ground wire grounding the solenoid to starter simply broke into. Replaced starter
ReplyDeleteTimthetech: 2005 Ford F150 5.4, No Crank/No Start >>>>> Download Now
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Timthetech: 2005 Ford F150 5.4, No Crank/No Start >>>>> Download LINK
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