99 3.0 changed oil, no no start/kills all power!

[08hybridok]

Ugh, started a simple oil change 6 hours ago; now when I turn the key I hear a small click under the hood somewhere; then all power goes out!

If I disconnect the battery for a min, the power returns (lights, radio, ac, etc)

I did forget to disconnect the battery before removing the oil filter; and made some sparks fly.

I bought a new starter, and exact same problem.

Swapped the relay out, same issue. Pull the relay, and when 'cranking' all power stays on. Relay in, starter out, crank it & again power stays on.

I'm guessing something is shorting out, but what & where?????

Please help, kid needs her truck back for work & school!

 

[Big Jim M]

Charge the damn battery and then make another post!
Big Jim

 

[08hybridok]

Forgot to mention battery was replaced a month or 2 ago.

I disconnected the pos battery cable on the starter, ran a jumper cable from the bolt to the battery terminal, and it cranked right up!

Tinkered with the battery connector & cables a little; put it back togather and so far it's starting every time.

Think I'm gonna run a new cable from the battery to the starter next weekend (assuming it doesn't die before then)

So mark this post closed....

 

[enjr44]

Once again Ford and battery cables. They just seem to be very sensitive to poor connections. Got to do that periodic maintenance and of course shorting stuff doesn't help.

 

[Andy D]

Yah I created a short in the small wire going to the starter from solenoid. Let the smoke out of it.Dead short,easy to find. I replaced it an hid all my work in a newer piece of loom. 21 yr old Ford wiring is very tender Crumbly, just like the rest of the truck. The wiring at starter has had all its ends replaced. The less I mess with it, the less I have to mess with it