1997 Ford F350 Truck won't turn on most of the time

RENEE'STRUCK

MEMBER
1997 FORD F-350
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
53,000 MILES

Bought this older low mileage diesel truck last week. (53,000 on a 1997) went to turn it on over the weekend and it won't. Checked battery and they were dead (although marked Feb of this year) so we charged them. (And I got blame for leaving something on which I did not do) charged them up and the truck would still not turn on. Husband got out the volt meter and it is showing charged so he wanted me to just put the key in and put on accessories so he could keep checking. Instead, I saw all the lights go on and said I thought I could turn it over and I tried and was able to turn it on. Hmmm so we tried wiggling stuff to see if we could make it not turn on. All was well. That was yesterday. I went out now to turn it on and nothing! Lights light up as if it will go on but motor will not turn over, no noise at all. So I got out the volt meter and I checked and there is charge. 12.8 or so where do we start? What could be wrong.

6 Replies

WINEBURGER

MEMBER
82 POSTS

It sounds like a ignition switch to me try turning off and on if the dash lights dont work every time I would check the switch with the volt meter if it test bad replace it

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Monday, August 17th, 2009 AT 4:29 PM

RENEE'STRUCK

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Turning it on and off - the lights all do work everytime (now that the battery is charged) but when I try to turn over the engine it does not even make a click or anything but I can hear something (maybe the air bags blowing up or something). I will add that there are these lights that are either custom or part of a luxury package way back then that did turn on and now do not turn on, that are overhead. They have a switch that looks like factory that says "mood" of all things. I am not sure if that is the switch for them but if not there are 3 more factory looking switches right next to it. I have turned them all off but before that, yesterday, they were working. Today when I played with everything, they were not working. I wondered if it had anything to do with it.