# 2008 Ford F-350 won't start **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 11, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-f-350-wont-start/86543 "2014-08-11T23:06:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alaskaken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6de8d8/32.png) [@alaskaken](https://community.cartalk.com/u/alaskaken)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-f-350-wont-start/86543/1 "2014-08-11T23:06:11Z")
My 2008 Ford F-350 doesn’t make a sound when I try to start it. The battery is good. The steering does not lock with the key out. Is it something to do with the anti-theft system? ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 11:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-f-350-wont-start/86543/2 "2014-08-11T23:30:24Z")
'‘more input’' does a theft light flash ? ( some 08 industrial pickups did not have the pats system ) Automatic or manual ? do the dash lights go off as you attempt to crank and back on again when you release the key…as normal ? ---
**Author:** ![alaskaken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6de8d8/32.png) [@alaskaken](https://community.cartalk.com/u/alaskaken)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-f-350-wont-start/86543/3 "2014-08-12T00:00:35Z")
I can’t see a flashing theft light. Automatic Transmission. Dash lights do go off when I attempt to crank and then back on after. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 1:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-f-350-wont-start/86543/4 "2014-08-12T01:05:54Z")
Shift the transmission into neutral and then try starting the engine. If the engine starts there’s a problem with the park/neutral safety switch. Tester ---
**Author:** ![alaskaken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6de8d8/32.png) [@alaskaken](https://community.cartalk.com/u/alaskaken)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-f-350-wont-start/86543/5 "2014-08-12T18:29:33Z")
I tried starting it in neutral and it still doesn’t start. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-f-350-wont-start/86543/6 "2014-08-12T21:59:11Z")
Since the dash lights do go off when attempting to start, I think we might be able to rule out a bad ignition switch It also doesn’t start in neutral, so we can probably rule out the switch “The battery is good” is unfortunately a little too vague for me. Please define good. How old is it? Has it been tested? Are all the connections at the starter and battery clean and tight? Seems to me the starter motor itself may be faulty. If you’re getting 12V at the appropriate starter terminals when attempting to start, you need a starter You could crawl underneath the truck and lightly tap on the hammer, while your assistant tries to start. But only if you can safely do so. ---
**Author:** ![alaskaken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6de8d8/32.png) [@alaskaken](https://community.cartalk.com/u/alaskaken)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-f-350-wont-start/86543/7 "2014-08-13T03:46:31Z")
There are two batteries putting out 12.4 volts. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-f-350-wont-start/86543/8 "2014-08-13T04:01:03Z")
A fully charged battery should be at 12.6 volts And a bad battery will quickly drop to an unacceptably low battery when asked to do anything That is why I asked if they have been tested Load test Capacitance test Any of these would be fine ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-f-350-wont-start/86543/9 "2014-08-13T23:00:00Z")
What events preceded it not starting ? There is a starter relay and a fuse in the engine compartment fuse box…plus a fuse in the junction box under dash. ( see owner’s manual for locations ) One leg of the relay will be hot all the time. The other will be hot only in the cranking mode. ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-f-350-wont-start/86543/10 "2014-08-14T03:38:38Z")
A battery at 12.4 volts is actually dead. As db4690 said, a charged battery will have 12.6 volts. The starter isn’t cranking because your batteries are dead. ---
**Author:** ![EK\_Hammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/77aa72/32.png) [@EK\_Hammer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EK_Hammer)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 5:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-f-350-wont-start/86543/11 "2014-08-14T05:56:58Z")
My votes the starter or relay/selanoid . Do as @db4690 said and rap the starter with a hammer to see if it’ll engage. I’m assuming you’ve tried jumping with another vehicle already. If it is the starter, if you have a automotive electrical shop in town, have the original starter rebuilt. ---
**Author:** ![alaskaken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6de8d8/32.png) [@alaskaken](https://community.cartalk.com/u/alaskaken)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 4:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-f-350-wont-start/86543/12 "2014-08-19T04:30:38Z")
I replaced both batteries with new fully charged ones. I also tried rapping the starter while trying to start it.