Ford F250 is a light-duty truck with a wonderful set of engines, a great transmission, and also a cool design. This truck is pretty popular among those people who think that the more popular F150 is a small truck. And the F250 is as durable and reliable as any other Ford truck. But it has one very common problem.
Starting system fault message highlights
- Common reasons:dead 12V battery, dead key fob battery, issues with immobilizer, problems with BCM
- How to fix:check the batteries, check wiring and connections
- Possible consequences:car won't start, you are stranded
- Priority level:High
- Can you drive?Yes, if it starts
- DIY repair:Possible
- Repair price range:$5-$250
How does the Starting System Fault work in the Ford F250?
You may think that it will only work when you try to start your vehicle. Yes, this is possible. In this case, once you turn on the ignition, the message will come up on the screen on your dashboard. After that, even if you try, you will not be able to start the engine. The starter motor will not rotate and the engine will not start.
But the message can also come up while you are driving your vehicle. In this case, you will hear a special signal (just like when the doors are open, for example) and the dashboard will go off for some seconds. After that, the dashboard will turn on again and the message will reappear. This is a very common issue with the Ford F250 and a lot of owners report about this.
Your truck will not stop, and the engine will not turn off. So it's not very dangerous. But still, seeing a dashboard going off for some time is horrible. Also, if you turn off the engine at this moment, you will not be able to restart it again.
What can be wrong with your Ford F250?
We've come up with different possible problems. First of all, we spoke to a mechanic who works in a specialized Ford repair shop, then we investigated Ford truck forums and saw some other opinions.
So, here's what can cause the "Starting System Fault" in your Ford F250:
- Bad starter motor. The motor can get stuck and it will not be able to turn the engine. After the system tries to turn the starter motor and fails to do that, it will send you the message.
- Bad starter motor connections and wiring. We've heard about connectors and wiring problems that could be causing this problem. So, you should just move these wires near the starter motor when the ignition is off and then try again.
- The big connector that is placed in a driver's side footwell. It's connected to the parking brake bracket and it's the source of many electric problems of the F250. All you need to do is to disconnect and then connect it again.
- ECU problems. Sometimes, the ECU may also be the source of the problem. It may send different fault messages and codes without any breakdowns. Try to turn off the engine and then restart it after 10 minutes.
The most popular option is the start motor failure. But the second popular option is that mysterious christmas-tree-shaped connector in the driver's side footwell. We would start with checking this connector and then we would probably go to the dealer to check what else can be wrong with the vehicle.
Is it dangerous to drive a truck with this message?
It's not dangerous in most cases, but you should know that most likely after you turn off the engine, you will not be able to turn it on again. Once the ignition is on, you will see the "Starting System Fault" on the dashboard. Also, other error messages may start attacking you: "Hill Descent Control Fault" or "Service AdvanceTrac", etc.
So, if the vehicle is OK and it keeps driving further with no visible changes in the power, steering, etc., you should drive further without turning off the engine. Once you try, you may end up sitting in a dead car that doesn't want to start. But after reading our article, you now know which connectors and wires you should move to start your F250 again.
Final words
It's a very common error message in your Ford F250 - "Starting System Fault". But it's not always so bad that you just can't do anything with it. The most obvious thing to do is to check all of the important electric connectors. And then you will have to check the starter motor. If nothing helps, the only option is to go to the dealer or to a specialized repair shop.
About the authors
The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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