No starter operation - engine will not crank over.

Tiny
TNBLESSED
  • MEMBER
  • 2015 FORD F-150
  • 3.5L
  • V6
  • TURBO
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 107,000 MILES
This issue started out as rarely happening and progressed to regularly happening. I press the brake and hit the start button (2015 Lariat with factory keyless start) and it started hesitating to crank and fire. There was no slow crank or dimming headlights. All lights came on the dash as expected but that was it. I tried to see if it would remote start and it wouldn't. I switched it to neutral and still no start. I replaced the battery with a new, 750 amp battery. This didn't help. The no start got more frequent with it taking several minutes of pressing the brake and the start button to get it going. I change the batteries in both remotes with no affect. I replaced the start button with Ford's OEM and no affect. I then replaced the brake switch with Ford's OEM and no improvement. I took it to a little country mechanic who basically stomped the brake pedal hard once and it started every time for him so I brought it back home. It started fine from a couple of days and then this morning, it took 3 tries to get it do anything. Any ideas!
Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 6:28 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Okay. Couple things to clarify this or if you can get a video of what it is doing, that will help get us on the same page.

When you press the brake and press the button, you said it would crank slowly but now is it not doing anything when you press the button?

Here is a guide that will help with this issue in general but I suspect you have an issue with the brake switch if pressing the brake harder seemed to work:

https://youtu.be/dCjmRL3p4Cs

Can you press the brake lightly and then have someone check behind you to see if the brake lights come on? You can do this with the key on or off, the brake lights should come on no matter what.

Let us know about this info or if you can get a video that would really help us with possible issues. Thanks
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Saturday, May 22nd, 2021 AT 11:59 AM
Tiny
TNBLESSED
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
The brake lights work when you press the pedal even though it won’t start. The attached video shows that I’m pressing the brake and this time it only took four presses of the start button to get it to crank and start. Yesterday it took about 15 times. I’ve noticed the last couple of times, it finally did a short crank and the next press on the button had a full crank and start. The mechanic that looked at it said he hit the brake hard and it started but I’ve never seen any difference between a normal press and a hard press of the pedal. Since the brake switch was replace new with an OEM part, the problem was the same with the old and new. When I said it cranked slowly, I meant that it hesitated to crank immediately when the button was pressed in the beginning. Now the hesitation has becoming multiple button presses to get it to do anything.
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Sunday, May 23rd, 2021 AT 5:49 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Okay. That helps. Couple more questions because it was hard to tell exactly when you pressed the button after the first one and then when the engine started.

When you pressed the button, it appeared the lights and everything came on like you pressed the button to turn it to the accessory position. So when you do not press the brake and push the button, it goes to the accessory option and everything comes on. Is this what is happening? It is like you are not even pressing the brake?

Next take the key and use it to press the button and see if it starts the first time. This is a push button/immobilizer override and if there is an issue there, it should start right away.

Lastly, have you checked for codes? I am not sure there will be any but we need to check and make sure.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Let me know this info and hopefully that will put us on the right path.
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Sunday, May 23rd, 2021 AT 7:13 PM
Tiny
TNBLESSED
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I’m attaching a better video. It took 11 tries to get it to fire this time. I used a small scanner and it came back with 0 DTC. I’ll include the photos of that. I really appreciate your help.
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Monday, May 24th, 2021 AT 6:26 AM
Tiny
TNBLESSED
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Added a Forscan tool to the truck and got this short video of the codes.
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Monday, May 24th, 2021 AT 7:44 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
That is all great info. If you notice the light on the push button is flashing when you press it and it fails to start. That is normally a signal that the button is the issue.

However, with the last scan you have more evidence as to what is happening. The B108A is what we need to start with. This is directly for the start button.

I attached the info below for this code. If everything checks out then it may be the BCM but we can get into that next.

This testing is not the easiest and I am not sure your scan tool will do some of this but it is worth looking into.

Things are starting to add up.
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Monday, May 24th, 2021 AT 8:07 PM
Tiny
TNBLESSED
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I really appreciate the feedback but this last info and testing was a little over my head. I scheduled with a local shop I've used and they diagnosed the issue as the starter having an excess current draw of over 200 amps when it should be around 150 amps. Right turbo (passenger side) coolant line was leaking and draining onto starter causing it to fail. They replaced four lines to stop the leak and also replaced the starter and I picked it up an hour ago. $1,400.00 and fingers crossed that this will solve the issue. Thanks again for your help.
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Friday, June 4th, 2021 AT 7:44 AM
Tiny
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If they found coolant leaking on it then that absolutely makes sense. Thanks for the info and I am sure that will take care or it.

Thanks for using 2CarPros and please come back in the future. Thanks
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Saturday, June 5th, 2021 AT 8:22 AM

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