F150 starter won't start in cold weather

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - F150 starter won't start in cold weather

Posted: 12/11/2013 6:45:33 PM EDT

When we start to get cold up here, not super cold about -30C my truck does not want to start, there is no click from the solenoid at all trying to engage.

Battery is good, all contacts are clean, usually if I hold the key in the crank position after a minute or so it will decided to start

is this a gummed up solenoid?

the starter and solenoid are original 1997

Posted: 12/11/2013 7:16:21 PM EDT

[#1]

Solenoid is probably crap.

Posted: 12/11/2013 7:17:56 PM EDT

[#2]

probably combination of a marginal battery and marginal solenoid.

Posted: 12/11/2013 7:18:02 PM EDT

[#3]

It's a Ford.

Posted: 12/11/2013 7:18:18 PM EDT

[#4]

It won't start because it's a Ford

ETA: Beat by 16 seconds

Posted: 12/11/2013 7:25:44 PM EDT

[#5]

Get both- starter and battery. Or just buy a Chevy. Lol

Posted: 12/11/2013 7:27:20 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
When we start to get cold up here, not super cold about -30C my truck does not want to start, there is no click from the solenoid at all trying to engage.

Battery is good, all contacts are clean, usually if I hold the key in the crank position after a minute or so it will decided to start

is this a gummed up solenoid?

the starter and solenoid are original 1997

View Quote

From a guy living in Vegas -------->>

Posted: 12/11/2013 7:32:59 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:

From a guy living in Vegas -------->>

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Quoted:

Quoted:
When we start to get cold up here, not super cold about -30C my truck does not want to start, there is no click from the solenoid at all trying to engage.

Battery is good, all contacts are clean, usually if I hold the key in the crank position after a minute or so it will decided to start

is this a gummed up solenoid?

the starter and solenoid are original 1997

From a guy living in Vegas -------->>

Hell that's only -22F

Posted: 12/11/2013 7:38:50 PM EDT

[#8]

Solenoid or ignition switch.
Either way it won't break the bank replacing them.

I'd start with the solenoid.

Posted: 12/11/2013 7:39:54 PM EDT

[#9]

Not super cold... my ass. I'm in MT and -22F works out as super cold in my book. Most of the folks on here would curl up and die if faced with -22F.
But yeah, get a new battery. Put one of those battery tender thingys on it to keep it alive.

Posted: 12/11/2013 7:44:18 PM EDT

[#10]

22 degrees is cold in my book.

-22? I don't think so, Governor.

Posted: 12/11/2013 7:44:35 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
It's a Ford.

View Quote

Posted: 12/11/2013 7:47:55 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
Solenoid or ignition switch.
Either way it won't break the bank replacing them.

I'd start with the solenoid.

View Quote

This. The 'hold the key' thing says that it isn't the battery or battery cables. Something is warming up a bit while you hold the key. That would be the solenoid most likely.

Posted: 12/11/2013 8:02:24 PM EDT

[#13]

It's something icing somewhere I think. Dealt with this on a certain Ford before. Turn key, nothing happens. Take starter half way out, give up, put starter back on, works like new.

Or, put in gear, rock vehicle back and forth, there ya go. Or throw a heater under it. Still don't know why, but what a pain.

Posted: 12/11/2013 8:11:51 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
Not super cold... my ass. I'm in MT and -22F works out as super cold in my book. Most of the folks on here would curl up and die if faced with -22F.
But yeah, get a new battery. Put one of those battery tender thingys on it to keep it alive.

View Quote

I'm from the great white northeast and regularly wash my balls with ice water for recreational purposes

I will testify that -22 is fucking cold, at that temperature jack frost goes to work on your fingertips and ears with a pair of pliers

at that temperature weird shit starts happening, like you lock a door with ease and then the lock freezes a minute later and you cannot get back inside

that actually happened to me one time

Posted: 12/11/2013 8:13:54 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
It's something icing somewhere I think. Dealt with this on a certain Ford before. Turn key, nothing happens. Take starter half way out, give up, put starter back on, works like new.

Or, put in gear, rock vehicle back and forth, there ya go. Or throw a heater under it. Still don't know why, but what a pain.

View Quote

or, take a wooden dowel and smack the starter a few times

Posted: 12/11/2013 8:15:39 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:

This. The 'hold the key' thing says that it isn't the battery or battery cables. Something is warming up a bit while you hold the key. That would be the solenoid most likely.

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Solenoid or ignition switch.
Either way it won't break the bank replacing them.

I'd start with the solenoid.

This. The 'hold the key' thing says that it isn't the battery or battery cables. Something is warming up a bit while you hold the key. That would be the solenoid most likely.

if he was to try it using a jump from another vehicle with the engine revved up, that would also be a test

if the starter cranks, then he knows he needs a heavy duty battery

Posted: 12/11/2013 8:24:13 PM EDT

[#17]

Start a fire under it like the germans did to their tanks in Russia.

Posted: 12/11/2013 8:29:50 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
-30C

View Quote

Nope.

Posted: 12/11/2013 8:39:54 PM EDT

[#19]

I wouldn't fucking start either.

Posted: 12/11/2013 8:43:12 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
This. The 'hold the key' thing says that it isn't the battery or battery cables. Something is warming up a bit while you hold the key. That would be the solenoid most likely.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

Solenoid or ignition switch.

Either way it won't break the bank replacing them.

I'd start with the solenoid.

This. The 'hold the key' thing says that it isn't the battery or battery cables. Something is warming up a bit while you hold the key. That would be the solenoid most likely.

I dont know about that I had a VW jetta that would do almost that exact same thing and it turned out that batt cable was bad. It actually snapped at the battery when I removed the clamp

Posted: 12/11/2013 8:47:53 PM EDT

[#21]

Besides the electrics, what weight oil you running? Shit can the starter / solenoid and install a new high cold crank battery or as they say up nort BATT TREE.

Posted: 12/11/2013 8:59:27 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:

From a guy living in Vegas -------->>

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
When we start to get cold up here, not super cold about -30C my truck does not want to start, there is no click from the solenoid at all trying to engage.

Battery is good, all contacts are clean, usually if I hold the key in the crank position after a minute or so it will decided to start

is this a gummed up solenoid?

the starter and solenoid are original 1997

From a guy living in Vegas -------->>

Lol coldest it got this year was 20 at night and that was last week. Lol

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - F150 starter won't start in cold weather

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