No crank while hot

[dgeary]

This has happened twice in the last week: My 2005 F-250 starts fine. I drive it 10 or 15 miles, stop for coffee and then it won't start, won't even turn over. Nothing. The first time it happened, I returned to the scene 12 hours later and it started. No pilot error; the truck was definitely in park. This time, I had to have it towed. Brand new batteries, too.

[Evil Eye]

Sounds like a high pressure oil leak and being it's a 2005, it's most likely a bad STC fitting. An electronic monitor like the Scan Gauge II or the Edge Insight CS or CTS would allow you to monitor ICP pressure and IPR duty cycle. It can at least confirm if you have a high pressure oil leak.

PS. Please DON'T throw parts at it, since there are many parts on the 05 engine that could cause these EXACT SAME symptoms.

[dgeary]

I thought the engine would at least turn over it was a bad STC fitting.

[Evil Eye]

Yeah, it should turn over. Sorry, I read it but must have engaged "mouth before brain" (as my wife says)....

[Clay Henry]

Does it do anything at all, any clicking sounds etc? tap on the starter solinoid next time this happens. These dont go out often but...

[dgeary]

Nothing at all. The dashboard lights do illuminate, though.

[Clay Henry]

Check all your ground wires. Especially the one from the passenger side firewall to the engine block. If they are corroded, pull them and take a wire wheel to them, grease them and tighten back down.

[amdriven2liv]

Check the pulleys, see if one is freezing up on you. A frozen pulley, especially A/C, can prevent the engine from turning over.

I haven't heard of one doing this intermittently, but you never know.

[dannyboy950]

This is gonna sound dumb but were you faceing uphill? The bendix return spring can be weak/broken and the bendix will sometimes stick in the ring gear.
The starter has to turn that quarter turn to be able to roll the engine no matter how good of batteries.

[dgeary]

Wasn't facing uphill. Just tried to start it again cold (after eight hours). Nothing. So frustrating.