Ford introduced the F-150 as the bridge between its F-100 and F-250 models in 1975. In 1984, Ford dropped the F-100 and the F-150 became the entry level F-series pickup. The 2003 F-150 came standard with a 4.2-liter V-6 engine that produced 202 horsepower. It also had a 231-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 and a 260- to 380-horsepower, 5.4-liter V-8 available. These engines utilized a high-powered electric motor, known as a starter, to turn the engines' internals to start the engines. Replacing out a failed started on the 2003 F-150 is nearly the same process for all three available engines.
Disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery, using a combination wrench. Isolate the cable away from the battery to avoid accidental connection.
Raise the front of the F-150, using a floor jack, and position jack stands beneath the truck's frame rails. Lower the F-150 onto the jack stands and remove the floor jack.
Crawl under the truck until you reach the starter -- where the engine and transmission meet on the passenger side of the engine. Label the two wires connecting to the starter solenoid, using masking tape and a permanent marker, and remove the wire retaining nuts, using a ratchet and socket. Pull the wires from the starter solenoid.
Remove the starter ground cable retaining nut securing the ground cable to the lowermost starter stud, using a ratchet and socket. Pull the starter ground cable from the starter stud.
Remove the starter retaining bolt(s) and stud, using a ratchet and socket. The 4.2-liter engine has one bolt and one stud and all other engines have two bolts and one stud.
Pull the starter from the mounting hole and from the vehicle.
Install the new starter in the mounting hole and hand-tighten the bolt(s) and stud. Tighten the bolt(s) and stud to 18 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.
Install the starter wires onto their respective studs and hand-tighten the nuts to hold them in place. Tighten the ground wire nut to 15 foot-pounds, the battery wire nut to 9 foot-pounds and the signal wire nut to 5 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket (see resources for diagrams). Remove the masking tape labels from the wires.
Raise the F-150 off the jack stands, using the floor jack, and pull the stands from under the truck. Lower the Ford to the ground.
Reinstall the negative battery cable and tighten it with a combination wrench.
