I've got a 5.4 ltr V8 4x4. It would not start, so I replaced the battery. It started fine after that. The next morning I got up, started it and drove it about 1 mile, shut it off to go in a store. Came out and the truck would not start. Turn the key and nothing, no ticking, no starter trying, nothing. 5 minutes later I tried again and it fired right up. Had a mechanic look at it and could not duplicate problem. Got up the next morning, turned it over and let it run for a few minutes. Shut it off to go in the house, came back out and it wouldn't start. Tried it 2 dozen times. 5 minutes later when my mechanic arrived, it started fine.
When its not starting, the radio still works, the gauges work, etc. And the "key" symbol does not come up on the dash. I am at a total loss.
Your problem could be your starter relay. It could be internally damaged and causing the intermittent problem. Look in the junction box under the hood for it. If you have your factory manual,it will tell you the exact position of the relay.
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I have a 2004 F-150 XLT 5.4L V8. My problem is very similar
except that I hear the starter solenoid click when I turn the ignition to
start. 16 months ago I had the first problem. One morning I went to start the
truck and the solenoid would click but not engage the starter. I turned the
headlights on, turned the ignition and the lights stayed bright. No current was
getting to the starter itself, only to the solenoid. It was under warranty,
towed to the dealership and they said that the starter terminals were corroded.
They cleaned them and life was good until yesterday. Tried to start but only
the solenoid clicked. I looked at the starter terminals and they looked clean. Battery
connections were spotless as the battery was replaced 1 year ago. Just for the
heck of it, I pulled off the battery cables, cleaned the posts and clamps,
re-attached, tightened, and the truck started up just fine. I wasn't convinced
that the problem was solved. This morning I had the same problem again. First I
wiggled all the positive and negative wires on the battery clamps and it still
wouldn’t start. Second, I removed the negative clamp from the battery for two
seconds, re-attached, tightened, and still wouldn’t start. Third, I removed the
positive clamp from the battery for two seconds, re-attached, tightened, and
started just fine. I’m guessing that I’ll have the same problem tomorrow AM.
Why would removing the positive clamp and re-attaching it allow it to start?
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