curtk69

hey guys im having trouble with my 2006 f150
it starts when it wants to.
seems to be battery power enough for lights but wont even try to turn over even after boosting with a battery charger.

is this likely a deadspot in starter?
or a bad connection?
ive filed up some of the exposed connections and
checked truck with a meter and it seems to have about 400 milliamps of draw with the key off, is that too much, so much that it will drain battery over night?

now i broke vacum canister behind the battery , while removing battery to take inside and charge overnight in warm house to make sure it wasnt so drained and frozen solid in -20 celcius cdn winter.
will truck run properly with this tube plugged or left open or do i need to buy a new one?

powerranger262

Pretty sure you are talking about the 4wd solenoid. Fix it.

curtk69

you could be right but where is the starter solenoid on a 4x4 2006 f150?

powerranger262

It's on the starter.

curtk69

ok cool, gonna search youtube for some instructional videos on what to expect
unless someones got one here?

hetman

400 milliamps draw sounds high almost 1/2 a amp


take battery to a parts store and have it checked w/a load tester

lewissa81

I second having the battery tested. Sounds like it's bad.
If the vacuum canister you broke is attached directly behind the battery, not on the firewall, then it's the vacuum resevoir for the 4wd. You may be able to get by with a plug in the line for while, but I would replace/repair it. It stores vacuum so the iwe's stay disengaged while in 2wd. If you leave it connected while it's busted, you'll have a vacuum leak and the iwe's can start grinding away, or fully engage. If you start hearing a grinding noise, just unplug the solenoid on the fire wall to fully engage them until you get it fixed.

powerranger262

I'm going to say, your battery is shot also.
When you get the new 4wd solenoid, make sure you get the newer version, that has the rain hat on it.

curtk69

ok i warmed battery overnight and charged it for a couple hours this morning.

patched the vacum resevoir behind battery and reinstalled battery
filed up positive connections before hand and it starts perfectly for now.

i will have to seee what happens overnight if it goes dead again from too much leakage current[400 millamps or close to 1/2 amp]

so as it stands i doubt the problem is 100% fixed as it still could be;
1. too much leakage current drawing battery down
2. weakening solenoid on starter

powerranger262

Your battery is probably just done for. How old is it?