Ignition problem...

[UrsaMajor]

So I go out to head to work per usual...car starts fine as always. As I am backing out I remember I need to get something out of the house. I turn the car off and when I come back to leave, the car won't crank. No messages or unusual flashing lights. No codes ( i have a scanner).

Battery is fine...checked with load tester.
Fuses in engine compartment look fine.
Not sure how to test starter relay.
Haven't checked fuses under dash.

Any thoughts? It's kind an emergency!
Thanks!

 

[SHOdded]

Push button start, right? If the following instructions don't work, try following instructions for ON (step 3), shifting to Neutral, then trying again. Maybe the IA key battery has gone bellyup.

If your vehicle is equipped with the
push button start system, you can
start your vehicle by pressing the
start button in combination with the
brake pedal rather than using a key.
The start button is located on the
instrument panel to the right of the
steering wheel.
In order to operate the Push Button Start system and start the vehicle,
your Intelligent Access key (IA key) must be present inside the vehicle,
either in the passenger compartment or in the trunk.

1. Off — press and release the START/STOP button without applying the
brake pedal when your vehicle is in accessory or on modes or when the
engine is running and there is no vehicle speed.
Note: In order to switch off the engine while the vehicle is in motion,
press and hold the START/STOP button for at least one second or
press the START/STOP button three times within two seconds. Then,
shift to neutral and use the brakes to bring the vehicle to a safe stop.
After the vehicle has stopped, turn the engine off and shift into park.
2. Accessory — press and release the START/STOP button without
applying the brake pedal. This allows electrical accessories such as the
radio to operate while the engine is not running. ACCESSORY POWER
ACTIVE and PRESS BRAKE TO START will be displayed in the message
center. Refer to Message center in the Instrument Cluster chapter for
more information.
3. On — press and hold the START/STOP button for at least one second
without applying the brake pedal. This will power your vehicle’s electrical
system and the warning lights in the instrument cluster will illuminate,
but the engine will remain off. Note: You cannot immediately start your
vehicle from the on mode. If you would like to start the vehicle and you
are in on mode, you must first switch the vehicle off.
4. Start — press the START/STOP button (for any length of time) while
applying the brake pedal. Note: The indicator light on the start button
will illuminate when the vehicle is in on mode and when the engine is
started.

 

[UrsaMajor]

Thanks, but I'm thinking it goes beyond this. I've cleaned the battery terminals to no avail. About to get underneath and look at starter and relay wiring. I'm suspecting starter is just bad. Would it quit so suddenly like this typically?

 

[SHOdded]

It could, but starter problems with the Gen 4 are highly unusual. Used to be more common in Gen 1&2 due to propensity of oil from oil filter seal to leak down onto the starter.

How did you test the battery? Multimeters & old style load testers won't really help.

 

[UrsaMajor]

I guess you could call it an old-style load tester...how else to check a battery these days? Any relays or fuses to check first? Not sure how to check a relay. What about the neutral safety switch?

 

[SHOdded]

This is how to check a battery in a modern day car:
http://www.amazon.com/BA5-100-1200-Cranking-Electronic-Battery/dp/B0017R5EQK/

 

[UrsaMajor]

I fixed it or it fixed itself. After going through all the fuses and seeing they were fine, I connected my remote starter switch to the solenoid posts. It cranked fine so that ruled out the starter motor itself. Put everything back together and decided to call a tow truck. But, as always, I figured why not try it one more time. Of course, it started right up! I hate crap like this...no idea what the problem was or how it repaired itself.

 

[SHOdded]

Good to hear! Remote starter switch? Aftermarket?

 

[UrsaMajor]

Yep, very basic. Two alligator clips, wire and handheld trigger switch. Bought it years ago for $20 I think. Comes in very handy at times!

 

[Brad Walker]

I have a 1988 f250 and when I try to hook up the battery the truck wants to start.. ???could it be the ignition.. PLEASE HELP,

 

[SHOrod]

It's likely an issue with the starter solenoid or starter relay. Any chance these were recently disconnected and reconnected? Maybe the wires were not installed correctly or the trigger is pinched to ground (don't know if that's a positive or negative trigger on that one).

-Rod

 

[rubydist]

Brad Walker, please do not hijack other threads with stuff that has nothing to do with the original post. Just start your own thread.

OP - did you by chance get a message "no fob detected" when it would not start? These things will randomly not detect the fob and then be fine again - what you describe sounds just like that.