F24 Won't Start

Larry3228 · Feb 24, 2014

I can't get my F24 to start. It started fine 2 or 3 times earlier in the day and it usually starts and runs OK.

It's an electrical problem of some sort. When I turn the key to the on position, the fuel gauge shows the fuel level and the fuel switch solenoid activates. When I turn the key to the start position nothing happens - except that the fuel gauge indicator starts to sink. When I turn the key back to off I hear the solenoid again. The dashboard lights stay dark, the horn doesn't work and headlights do not come on when the key is in the on position.

The first time it didn't start it made a brief sound as if the starter tried to turn. That happened 2 or 3 times over the years, but just trying again got it started.

I tried to jump start it with my truck, but it reacted the same as trying to start with just the battery.

I checked the battery cables and charged the battery overnight, but that made no difference.

My next step is to unhook the box blade and try to push start it, I should be able to do that on Wednesday night.

Any thoughts on where to look next would be appreciated.

Larry.

Gunny · Feb 25, 2014

Did you check the other end of the battery cables, to make sure they were getting good contact? This definitely sounds like an electrical problem and if you're battery is good, it would just about have to be the connections or maybe a starter getting ready to leave this wold.

Keith226 · Feb 25, 2014

My 226 will do that from time to time. The problem on mine is actually in the wiring in the starter area. I found some corrosion and cleaned the contacts in the connection and that helped a lot Still happens on occasion though, especially after rain.

Good luck

winston1 · Feb 25, 2014

With the lights and horn not working I would guess a bad connection or bad cable. I would start by taking the ground cable loose at the frame, clean it real good and reinstall. If you haven't, do the same to battery connections and starter connections. Be examining your cables real good while cleaning them. Sounds like you may have done at least part of this already but your symtoms are classic bad connection.

FleetMan · Feb 25, 2014

I had similar problems last year. The culprit was corrosion between the battery cable connectors and the battery post. All my voltage checks were good which puzzled me until I realized I was taking the readings from the battery posts and not the cable connectors. As others inferred, make sure all your electrical connections are clean and tight.

Larry3228 · Feb 25, 2014

Thanks for the tips. I have already done the connection checks at the battery, so I'll need to move deeper.

Larry3228 · Mar 5, 2014

It did turn out to be the connections as everyone thought, but I needed help finding it. I took all the clamps and cables apart and cleaned them, they all checked out for continuity. After I put everything back together there was 13.5 volts from the bolt that holds the ground cable to the frame to the bolt on the starter solenoid. But still nothing. I had a friend take a look, he found it in 2 minutes, he noticed a puff of smoke from where the positive battery clamp connects to the cable. He tightened that and it started right up.
I really can't complain, I've had my F24 for about 7 years and 700 hours and this is the first issue I've had.

Thanks for your help.