2006 F-150 Problems
 

I have a 2006 F-150 4wd 4.6L
About a month ago I went to start it...nothing happened..Thought I might have left a light on and got boost and it started instantly...worked great for a few days..then went to start it and nothing..tried boosting it again and nothing..then I tried again a few hours later and it started right up.

After I got it started this time, i took it directly to the dealership and told them the problem..they preformed an AVR test and said they seen no problems and thought it was a bad connection and cleaned everything.

So the next day it does the exact same thing...So I get it towed back into the dealership so they can figure out what is wrong while it is not starting..they check some things and then put a new starter on my truck.

That was 3 weeks ago and the truck has been perfect since then...until yesterday
The Same old story...went out to start it and nothing happened...called the dealership to bitch and assumed they gave me a wonky starter..so they said to bring it in.
Left it there overnight and they couldn't get it started, they now say there is no power getting to the starter....then an hour later they get it to start right up again no problem.

It's beginning to become quite the headache and I'm getting the feeling that i didn't have to waste the money on the new starter as now it seems it wasnt needed

Last updated from the dealer...they have the truck running but want to keep it overnight to try again tomorrow..they are starting to think it has something to do with the Theft Light not letting it turn over or something else within the computer

Anyone else have this sort of problem

Another piss off is the fact they thought it was the starter again and told me FORD would cover the tow in...now they say its not the starter and I have to pay..haha great times

any other thought on what it could be
Also if it is that would it mean the computer would need to be replaced? How $ could that be

Short in the battery cable somewhere? Bad connection? Bad battery? I would start there.

They said they tested it..
THE PATS? anyone know much about it/how much to repair it if this is the problem?

I would take the battery out and take it to a battery shop and have it tested. That sounds like a bad battery to me

way out there chance........but,

doesn't the PATS ( passive anti theft system ??) rely on a key that is electronicly matched to the truck?

do you have/did you try a different key?

Or maybe have a bad key or one that needs to be reprogramed?

You would think ford..having the truck right in front of them..could find the problem.Lets face it anything here is a guess.Heres my guess..you said when it was at ford and didn't start they said there was no power going TO the starter.There are only 3 things that would caise that..assuming that when it didnt start you still had lights and power in the truck...If you do have power then you know its not the battery or connnections.In which case the truck has power but its not going to the starter when the key is turned..
And if thats the case I would be thinking a faulty ignition switch a intermitent problem in the PATS system or a bad starter solenoid..But keep in mine that not seeing it it could also be something as simple..yet hard to find..as a bad connection..a corroded wire not carring the voltage under load..heck even a bad ground were the started bolts to the block.But when I check current flow to a starter I use either use a test light or DVOM meter..and assuming ford did that and had NO voltage on the starter wire then I'd go bad to thinking PATS , ignition switch..or solenoid...well actually maybe 4..a bad neutral switch could do it too.
But thats just my humble opinion.

Yeah It's getting a bit annoying, been at the dealership for 2 days now still nothing..haha
Guess it hard when sometimes it works perfect then just won't start..then perfect again without changing anything

So I got the truck back and they now think it is the instrument cluster