- 1). Check the battery. A dead battery or drained battery will prevent the truck from starting. A battery can die from an electrical component being left on a prolonged amount of time, such as an interior light, or if the battery is more than three or four years old. Turn the key in the ignition and attempt to turn on the windshield wipers. If they do not come on, your battery is dead. If the wipers move slowly, the battery is drained and is not providing enough power. Locate the battery under the hood and check for signs of corrosion or loose connections. Tighten the connections with a wrench. Corrosion can be removed by pouring soda over the terminals and lightly scrubbing with a wire brush. The carbonation in the soda helps to loosen the corrosion.
- 2). Check your F350's fuel. Although the F350 does come equipped with a fuel gauge, the gauge can fail and not report the right amount of fuel. If your truck was previously running but losing power, making thumping sounds, or lugging, then low fuel is most likely what is causing the problem. Add an additional gallon of fuel and see if the truck will now start. Depending on your driving habits, the 2005 F350 should get between 14 to 20 miles per gallon.
- 3). Consider any noises that you may have heard prior to your car not starting. A knocking noise can be typical of a car that does not have enough oil. For the F350, check the oil at least every three months or 3,000 miles. Check the oil level of your F350. If your truck was making whistling noises, the alternator pulley may have fallen off and is not sending enough power to your battery to start the truck. A pinging noise can be the result of bad gasoline. Adding new gasoline to your car or siphoning the old and adding new may solve this problem.
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