When putting a battery charger on your 1996 F-150 Ford 4x4 all day and driving four miles stopping for gas it would not start again just clicked once is it the battery or the starter?

Answer 1

It could be a defective battery or starter. However, if I understand the meaning of "...JUST CLICKED ONCE..." I suspect that it may be neither the battery or the starter!!! If the battery is good, and takes and HOLDS A FULL CHARGE, the problem is "downstream" of the battery. However, from your description of charging all day, driving a short distance, and then having the problem suggests a battery at the end of it useful lifetime. Battery life end is often exhibited by taking a charge, BUT NOT being able to hold that charge for any significant amount of time. First, I suggest that you have the battery checked [usually free at most auto supply stores] to make sure that it has not failed, or is in the process of failing. If the battery checks bad, replace it. If the battery proves to be good, then the cause obviously is something else. Corrosion on the battery terminals, on the cable clamps which attach to the terminals, or INSIDE [BETWEEN the cable and the clamp or connector] those connectors and/or those at the other ends of the cables, or the connections at the other ends can cause the symptom you describe. I have observed this phenomenon more than once. For some reason, unknown to me, a corroded connection CAN allow just enough electrical current to pass to cause enough movement inside the starter SOLENOID or sometimes the starter, to create just ONE SINGLE CLICK, and then conduct no more. The starter SOLENOID can cause the same symptom, as well as the starter, BUT I suggest TESTING all BEFORE buying/replacing anything, in order to not waste money replacing good components. IF you insist on the "shotgun" method of replacing parts, one at a time until the problem goes away, I suggest this order of replacement: 1. Battery cables, and any other similar heavy cables between the battery and the starter. 2. Starter solenoid. 3. The battery. 4. The starter. If you can afford it, it would be much quicker and more effective, and possibly less expensive in the long run, to take your vehicle to a QUALIFIED mechanic, or automotive electrical technician [he or she is qualified to quickly make an accurate diagnoses]. j3h.