2010 f150 w/ the 5.4 will not start this morning. It's been a couple of weeks I believe since I've used her, not a daily driver. Anyhow, I thought it may be a weak battery, everything works, but when I try to turn her over, it tries to turn, but ever so faintly. Then nothing! I thought I caught a glimpse of "check brakes" or something on the dash, but it disappeared so quick, I didn't catch it. I waited a minute or so, then tried to restart, this time, it wouldn't turn over at all, and all the needles on the dash started shaking and vibrating, and I can hear the electronics resetting or something.

Anyhow, I tried to jump it, but it didn't work either. When hooked up to a jumper car, it made one or two clicking like noise but that's it. Does the jumper car need to be idling at a higher RPM? Would that make a difference at all? I couldn't keep it running at 2k for I don't have an extra set of hands...or feet in this matter.

Any help would be great! Thanks!

 

Yes you have a dead battery from poor charging driving habits most likely. A "jumper car" not only is trying to start your truck but also re-charge your dead battery. Give it a few minutes then try to start.

 

Think of the computers in your truck that are drawing the battery down while sitting. Two weeks is enough to make a battery go flat if the battery isn't fully charged. you may want to consider installing a battery cut off switch so that when not in use, your truck's battery will not go flat.

Moreover, it is possible you've a bad factory battery and so after you've fully charged it, you may want to have the battery load-tested to check it out.

 

If the battery is not fully charged, why will it not jump? Does the jumper car need to be running at a higher idle?

 

Maybe not a good enough connection on the jumper cables

 

1) Jumpers are not good quality.
2) Jumper terminal connections are bad.
3) Jumpers are not connecting well (red on positive black on something that looks like bare metal)
4) The jumper car has a smallish alternator (and yes, revving the jumper car to 1100-1500 rpm-ish will help).
5) The battery in your truck is a stone and will not accept a charge (replace your battery with a new battery).

6) Your truck should have roadside assistance.

 

I thought that with newer car you don't need to have higher Rpms to get it to jump another Vehicle Just what I have heard.... Thanks guys.

 

Your alternator shunts to different windings as demand increases or decreases relative to engine speed but your car may not "recognize" the increased demand of attempting to jump start another vehicle until its own battery voltage drops at which point the stepper motor should (but not always) increase engine rpm. At any rate, once hooked up, tap the throttle and see if the engine remains at a somewhat elevated rpm.

Basically, if your jumper car has ABS and is injected and has a defroster, its alternator should be rated at 140 amps or more.

On GMs the shunting process is super noticeable (if you've ever driven a GM and noticed for a moment the lights all flickered off and then back on while slowly accelerating, that was the alternator shunting to a more efficient winding because the alternator is spinning faster).

 

When you connect the jumpers, you should hear the load on the jumping car's motor. If not you probably do not have a good connection.

 

I've never had any issues jumping other cars/vans w/ my daily driver, a Maxima, however there were always 2 pple, so I was able to rev it up to 1500-2000 before jumping. But when you're alone, it's not so easy. Anyhow, just got back from borrowing a charger, we'll see how she goes ...