starting problem electronic clicking

[TFG-Landscaper]

Greetings All,

New member here with a problem with our work truck.

2000 F450 Super Duty XL Power Stroke

problem started last week.

turn ignition forward for glow plugs and about 75% of the time there's a rapid electronic cycling clicking noise, 'wait to start' light flickers (along with ABS light) for about a second or less, then 'wait to start' light works as normal.

turn ignition forward to crank motor - every time it will turn over just fine. Some times there will be a barely audible clicking (about 2 clicks per second) and engine will not start (seemingly no fuel). Some times engine starts fine.

problem happens warm or cold. slope or flat ground.

The clicking appears to be coming from relays.

The IDM relay clicks - replaced it, new one does same thing.

There's a relay block under the dash in the middle of dash where one of the smaller relays click, replaced it with no change.

Any help is greatly appreciated,
TFG-Landscaper

[SCUFFY828]

2 things that come to mind , either the pcm is geting water in it ,or the fuse
box under the dash is seperating internally , 2000 models had that problem

[lilredpowerstroke]

My 99 does the same thing I think. You mean the clicking is coming from under the dash right?? When my truck does it I quit cranking and do the whole wait to start thing turn the key and it cranks on the second try everytime. I really dont attention to it but if its the PCM I guess I need to get it checked out huh??

[Hyena]

back to the top, mine does this too. started doing it yesterday. tried to start in at about 10am. was clicking with no fire. tried starting it about 4 times and quit. came back about 4 hours later. started right up. tried starting it this morning but all it did was click and turn over but didn't fire. got home after work and tried to start it. it clicked for about 5 seconds and then it fired and clicking stopped. shut off, tried to start it again, clicked for a couple seconds and then started up. did you guys get your fixed? whats was the problem. it seemed like a relay for fuel to me. coming from under the dash for sure. 99 F-250 7.3L thanx

[Hyena]

TTT please.

[vitalidle]

Does your truck ever shut down by itself or stall out? Also does your starter always turn over when you turn the ignition key?

[Hyena]

It has never shut down by itself and the starter has always turned over when i turn the key on. it hasn't done it since monday.

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Last edited by Hyena : 09-16-2007 at 10:37 PM.

[mschn99]

last time i saw this the shift solenoids in the tranny were shorting out and causing the PCM to short out...which affected the ground circuits for the PCM and IDM relay...it was a bear to diag....since it would not blow the fuse...

[Hyena]

3 weeks to the day since it last did it but it did it today. no one has fixed this problem on there truck yet?

[miron42069]

mine would do this when i would turn my truck off, would buzz for like 2 mins. tracked what relay fuse was doing it. was the number 1 fuse the big one under the dash, replaced it for 14 bucks. havnt had the problem since.