Tries to crank itself

2001 f250 7.3. Tries to crank with keys in my pocket. Any ideas?

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Does it start up and run or just turn over?

If it's been snowing or raining. Mine even screwed up when there was dew on the windshield. The windshield is leaking.

Dads truck started doing that earlier this year. Got so bad he had to start disconnecting the batteries every night. We chased the issue for 2 months trying to figure out WTF was wrong with it. It ending up catching on fire and burning underneath the hood down. Totaled the truck.


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Sorry, been a crazy past few weeks. So it just tries. It never actually starts.

Well I hope mine don't catch fire.

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I'd look first at the starter wiring. Maybe a cut or a short somewhere is causing that. Then maybe ignition relay, or switch. After that, I don't know.

Check the central junction box for water. Leaky windshield?

Your more than likely replacing that box. It's probably water damaged

koltenkemp7 said:

2001 f250 7.3. Tries to crank with keys in my pocket. Any ideas?

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Try disconnecting the start switch wire from the solenoid mounted on your right hand fender first. This will indicate which direction your problem needs to be chased.

Generally speaking:

One direction:

Start Solenoid>Harness>Starter Solenoid/Plunger>Starter

(2001 uses the start solenoid on the fender and the plunger on the back of the starter)

Or

The other direction:

Start Harness>Junction Fuse Box>Neutral Safety Switch or Clutch Safety Switch (if present)>harness to Keyswitch>Keyswitch

Which direction will be revealed by disconnecting the control wire at the solenoid on the fender. That effectively splits the starter 'control' electrical system.