I was having starting issues. Battery, alternater and starting solenoid checked out OK. I crawled underneath to check the starter and the positive terminal was coroded and the wire broke off in my hand. I replaced the connection tab and thought I was set, until today. As I was driving, pulling a pontoon boat trailer, it felt like I was losing power. I figured it was because of the trailer and the strong winds we had. As I continued to pick up my boat, the motor stuttered, the speedometer and tach both went all the way to the right, momentarily lost power but it never died. This happened twice, but it never died. I picked up the boat and headed home and it did it once again. Also I have an external satelite radio I listen to, and 4 times the power to it went out. Not sure if thats related, but it's never happened before. It seems strange too, that when I started the truck, the speedometer needle maxed out as it started, I can't remember if that usually happens, I don't drive the truck much. So do I have a short somewhere? Is it related to the work on the starter cable? How can I troubleshoot this? I have an ohm meter, but I am still learning how to use it. 2000 F150, 90,000 miles

 

The guage thing at startup happend to me. A week or 2 before I replaced my alternator, so I went ahead and just got a battery, hasent happend since and been starting like a champ. I would start there. I read your other thread so it definatly sounds like it.

 

Maybe the gem modual is getting bad

 

New piece to the puzzle? The truck sat for a day and I went to move it tonight and nothing, dead. The headlights wouldn't even go on, battery connections were clean and tight. The puzzling thing is before I put the battery on the charger, it read 11.7 on my ohm meter. Wouldn't this be enough to enough have the headlights go on? Battery is new, autozone said alt. was Ok, but beginning to think not. Am I missing something? What would cause this?

 

11.7v is stone dead. Fully charged is 12.6 at 12 your truck likely won't start. It could be a bad alternator draining the battery and causing many of your issues. I'd say pull it off and have it checked

 

SOLVED, for now.. when I repaired the battery/starter cable, there were areas missing the flame retardant covering. Well one of those areas adhered itself to the exhaust manifold. Repaired the wire, recovered it and zip tied it away from the exhaust. I did kind of screw up the starter, which will be my next post, but if it holds a charge I should be good to go. Thanks for the help.

 

Nice going wolfman, sounds like the melted wire to exhaust was your issue for the lack of power with the trailer incident. Keep in mind, am not sure why, the speedo and tach needles pegging out on starter useage is a tell tale sign of battery failure in these rigs. If someone with the real know how would explain why, I would appreciate it.