On my 05 4x4 CTD my starter has been acting up and I am stumped where to go next

Many mornings after the truck has been sitting I turn the key and nothing happens. I do hear a click. All my accessories work. Batteries have been checked last week and are good.
If I keep clicking the key after about 25 times it will crank right over and usually good for the rest of the day without issues.

Where do I start?

 

I would start by by carefully checking all the battery connections, right down to the starter. If there is any doubt about them being clean, remove each one and clean them.

Another check that you can try is to turn the headlights on and watch them while someone tries to start your truck. If they fade to almost nothing and the engine does not crank that could indicate either bad batteries or bad connections.

A further check is to connect a volt meter to the starter itself. Not the solenoid. Watch the voltage at the starter when the key is turned. If the voltage is around 12 volts with the key turned and nothing happens, then this may indicate a bad starter. It should be zero with the key in the run position.

 

Sounds to me like your starter is going out.




47

 

Put some of Larryb's contacts in your starter don't get the cheap rebuilt starters as they are not as good as the OE equipment.

 

i have a new starter i don't need

 

Follow up. Started hearing grinding noises near start and the could hear the Hendrix spinning without catching so I replaced it and no further issues. What a butch if a job. But sounds like it was the starter all along.