2000 F250 DSL (280K), started having a delay when starting last week. Then finally it will not start at all. I thought it was the batts, so I replaced both. It still delayed when started. This mourning I went to start it, all lights come on but no crank. There is no click, just silence.

 

I guess the obviousness of failed starter symptoms was missed huh.

 

Could be a bad solenoid.

 

Which is typically sold as part of the starter.

 

There is also another starter solenoid on the passenger fender.......

OP, check out the vids on this site, might help.

 

It's hard to see that solenoid when you have your head stuck up your...ah nevermind.

 

 

Then how did you see it? Or are you just getting good at groping around blindly under your hood?



Since its been awhile since I've had any starting problems on my personal truck I have not looked in that area I guess. However, on the 6 7.3L equipped trucks in our fleet at work every time there has been a starting issue in the last 5 years like this its been bad windings on the starter or the solenoid on the starter.

To isolate where the issue is use a multimeter to check for 12V on the signal line at the starter solenoid while trying to start the truck. If the one up on the fender has gone bad you will have either no voltage or very little. If you've got a full 12V then the problem is in the solenoid on the starter.

 

I'm not so sure there is a solenoid on the starter... It is possible to start the truck via solenoid on the passenger fender. Skip the multi-meter. See if it'll start by jumping the solenoid with a screw-driver.

 

The thing on the starter is a solenoid. The thing on the fender is a relay.

 

There are 2 starter solenoids on the 7.3. One fender mounted and one starter mounted - both sold as solenoids.

If the starter mounted solenoid goes bad, you should still hear/feel the clicking of the fender mounted solenoid. If there is no clicking, as the OP stated, most likely it's the fender mounted solenoid that's gone bad.

With the OP's slow start then no start symptoms, most likely he'll be replacing the starter (that comes with the starter mounted solenoid) and probably the fender mounted solenoid.

Hopefully he'll be smart enough to get a gear reduction high torque starter.

 

Thanks Budha05stx for being straight and not an idiot like the rest.
I had the same issue, turn the key when below zero and 1 second delay then all fine and starts normal. Yesterday at the airport below zero in MN, all dash lights come as normal and nothing. I assumed a starter relay somewhere. With your insight I quickly located the solenoid/relay tapped it gently with a key and voom!