guys, I need some help I have a 02 5.4 triton flareside . I have never had a problem with the truck. its always ran great its in great condition and maintained. I am the second owner but its always been in the family . 130k on it I bought a 2018 f150 (v8) and decided I would keep the 02 for stuff I didn't want to use the new truck for or if family members needed to borrow it . I parked the truck about 3 months ago it was running perfectly when I parked it . today I wanted to get it running and take it for a ride. I knew the battery was dead so I hooked it up to my girls suv let it charge for a little got in and tried to start it . and it cranked and cranked but would not turn over . when it cranks the "theft" light blinks while it cranks , I put fresh gas in it but I can not get it to start. I haven't really tried diagnosing it yet , but I wanted to ask for help first to get any ideas about where I should look and get into first. I know my way around a engine pretty good I like to think haha I am MECP certified and spent a few years putting alarms/remote starters/ audio systems in cars for Tweeter. I know how the PATS system works or car immobilizer systems ( except for volvo bms saab no one has those cares figured out lol ) but I do not know the programming sequence or what the truck requires to program or modify a key to the truck. im not sure if I feel like it is the PATS system . im leaning more toward the truck sat for a while the system fully drained .it might even just need a brand new battery . I have heard that if the truck sits too long the ecu can loose the programming for idle and operation of the throttle causing the throttle plate not to open up while cranking causing it not to start. or even there could be sludge around the plate causing problems . I don't know im not sure . im asking for some advice on what I should get into first or if there is some specific procedure needed. any help would be greatly appreciated . thanks guys !

 

Sell it, you don't have the ability or know-how to keep a second vehicle it seems. I mean, you left the battery in it for 3 months and wonder why your having problems ? Hell, you didn't even charge it up, you jumped it lol. Come onnnn.... yea sell it, best advice I can give yuh.

 

Ive been there
Multiple times
For most of last 30 years ive had an "extra" vehicle
This works ok with newer lower miles vehicles, they can sit
Older.....not so much

You pay insurance for it
It depreciates
An older vehicle....never works, needs repairs
Seals leak, battery dies, fuel pump siezes, tank rusts, etc

In the long run, your better off renting a car when needed, than keeping
Older vehicle around if not driving it. It costs $1000+/yr. After 4-5 yrs, it adds up to mistake

 

Right now I have 6 vehicles. If you can't hop in them once a week to just go to the store, you may as well just sell it. I am at that point with my Expedition. It's about ready for a "for sale" sign in it right now. Not keeping a battery charged is hell on them. If you absolutely need to have this truck around, invest in a battery tender, but still start it and get the "juices flowing" now and again.

 

The first thing you would want is a battery disconnect switch, IF it sits that long between drive cycles. But when you do drive it, you should drive it long enough so the engine can run full cycle and burn off by-product (moisture) which can get really bad in the colder months. Otherwise they can load up and go downhill quickly. The minimal run time would be something like 15-30 miles run time every three months. That keeps the internals wet enough.

 

The Mustang sees no winter or wet weather action at all.... and it never will under my care. So, in the winter it just gets started, and I let it get up to temp so the thermostat opens once or twice. And, I keep it on a battery tender.... except this year, I forgot, LOL. I was looking on my workbench and thought "when did I buy another float charger?". Turns out, I didn't

 

When I storing, I'm talking years, I ran it on jack stands every 3 months to preserve the transmission. It worked. Didin't drive the thing, but couldn't let it go lol. Never believed in battery tenders, didn't like anything about them. Kept it unstressed, disconnected after running it. That worked out as well.

 

Yea, I didn't start driving the 98 again until 2015, it had been stored from 2009. Just sat in the garage taking up space lol.

 

Wow.... I didn't know it had sat for a spell. It is a mighty fine specimen!

 

Yea, it was starting to rust real bad. It sat that long waiting for some TLC. Fixed some of the rust, never quite finished it. Collected all the parts it needed, but those are in storage with a 1/2" of dust on them lol.