Starter problem? Help!

[Lux]

Its FREEZING outside and i'm having a problem with my 97 Mark Starting.

The battery is good, in fact just put a new one in it last night but when i turn the key i get a nice CLICK and nothing else, not a bunch of clicks, one solid click.


Tried going under there and rapping it a few times, nothing happened.

Of course this happens when its like 0 degrees outside, at my work, in the shade on the concrete, but whatever.

Antifreeze is good so the motor isnt frozen up.

I was doin some reading and the starters seem not to be a common problem...and theres only 60,000 miles on the car, ideas?

 

[XLRVIII]

I think Unity went thru a similar problem just this week.

I think he took his battery inside with him so it could warm up over night..rather than freezing in the car all night.

Fordnut suggested that, Unity tried it..and it worked.

If you just replaced the battery, it might be the connection.
I'd replace both battery terminals, the stock was are substandard on their best day.
In the cold, they are much much worse.

hope this helps

 

[XLRVIII]

This might work.... crawl back down there..
Find the ground wire (its a push on connector, not a bolt)
pull it off then put it back on and see if the car starts.

That crappy liittle press on female connector does get corroded sometimes

I had a similar problem with my 95 a few years ago.
the spade the female connector fits onto had gotten so corroded that I had to replace the soleniod to permanently fix the problem

 

[Lux]

Good idea, i work at napa so when i put the fresh battery in it last night it was at room temperature and nothing happened.

I was thinking about that little bastard on the starter, i know the new one comes with a bolt on connection instead of a slip on.

The cables are great, almost everything on this car is in pristine condition and looks like new.

I did notice a few minutes ago however there is some rust on the solenoid connection, BASTARD! lol

I'll have to check those little guys out and see if i have 12 volts at the starter.

I am defintely not looking foward to pulling this thing out if it comes down to it.

Its sooooooooooooooo cold outside its not even funny.

 

[Lux]

hmm...well i just looked again and i dont have a slip on connection, i have two bolt on connections

they look factory, i was under the impression it was gonna be a slip on i doubt its been changed before but you never know.

 

[XLRVIII]

damn it's been so long since I was under there..
Your gonna make me go crawl under my car...huh.
(lol)
it's cold here too dammit!
LMAO

 

[ford nut]

Get someone to turn the key when your under the car and check for 12 volts at the starter.

If you have power going to the starter, my guess would be the solenoid.
They get alot of heat cycles because they are right by the exhaust.
The starters actually last a long time.

Like Tommy suggested check all connections first, rust wont help any.

 

[XLRVIII]

Yup.. my second gen doesnt have the "Lee press-0n" connector.

I do remember it from my first gen though...weird.

Lux, try two new battery cable ends.... if you have the stock "band clamp" ones..they suck.

 

[Lux]

well i tried jumping the solenoid at the starter with a screwdriver, same results, one click, rapped on it some more, nothing.

Also tried moving the engine foward and back using the bolt on the balancer to see if i could free the starter maybe if it was stuck in the out position, nothing.

Looks like once i warm up again i'll disconnect the battery and start going at it.

Although those connections may suck, they are still good enough to start it, and although there is rust on the bolts at the solenoid, jumpin the two clean portions resulted in the same thing, one nice solid click.

 

[XLRVIII]

becareful moving the engine backwards from it's normal rotation...especially with these very very long timing chains. the tensioners dont work in reverse.

I had starting problems on my first gen after I replaced the alternator.
I went around and around and around with it..because I'd just worked on the alternator I was "locked onto" it being a problem in that area.

Turned out it was the battery terminals, I put two good ones on..and the car started better and quicker than it ever before.

 

[kylecm85]

i have the same problem going on in my 94 i figured out its just when its cold out for some reason. If u just hold the key to the start position it will eventually start i know this is not the solution to the problem but it is helping me out till it warms up a little and i can check all the conections and fix as needed try that and see if it works for you. I really want to get to the bottom of this problem i just really dont want to go mess around outside in the cold.

 

[unity]

The press-on connector was part of a voluntary recall thing. Ford only replaced then if the car went in for service. Since 98, I think, all Ford starters were made with the new style connector.

My guess is the solenoid. Take off the passenger wheel and you will have all the room to work on it you need. The problem will be in the nylon catch. It can be a bitch to get hooked when the solenoid/starter are not on the bench but its very doable if you look before you install. If you can pick up a starter from the store (maybe a core return) and remove the solenoid you will see what I mean about hooking that part.

Of course make sure you clean all connections and use some conductive grease to protect them.

Parking lot job so maybe 45 minutes tops to get it all done.

 

[ford nut]

You can jump a solenoid all you want it dosent prove its not bad.

http://www.misterfixit.com/starttst.htm

 

[Lux]

When you jump the solenoid and it still doesnt work then that defintely leans towards bad starter.

I know one thing, i should taken the tire off but oh well.

That top bolt is not fun to get but its defintely doable with the right tools.

If it was warmer out things would be alot nicer.

Anyway, with one jackstand, some hand tools, and a jack it should take no longer then an hour to get the starter in and out.

I got it out, but decided it was quite cold so i would come in and eat my primo's hoagie and report back results.

 

[unity]

Cool, the whole thing is out?

Ya, taking the tire off saves me tons of time though.

I replaced the starter solenoid toward the end of summer. I drop it up on ramps. Was not too hard but also not easy. When I did my starter I removed the wheel and jacked it up. It was 10 times easier to get to.

 

[Lux]

lol yeh, the whole thing is out.

Im just sittin in the store right now helpin customers and stuff, i have till 4 to put it back together so im good. It just sucks in the cold and ALL my tools are at my house, so im using some mickey mouse bull$hit store tools, had to borrow some from the shop across the street to do the job.


In all reality, if i was at my house - from the time the jack hits the subframe till the stater is on the ground should be like 20 minutes, its really pretty easy.

I got the bottom two bolts out with just a 1/4 in ratchet, a shallow 10mm and a deep 10mm, 10mm wrench, and i had to get a long handle 1/4 ratchet for the top bolt though. Using just that and a 3" & 5" extension (to loosen them by hand) the starter comes right out, no swivels needed. Also, dont forget the battery cable to solenoid is 1/2" as well. (note to anyone doing this in the future, take those fuggers off FIRST before you drop it!!, i didnt and wound up having to remove the solenoid as the starter was hanging and cut the cable that went into the case, its cold and i didnt have time to mess around puttint it in and back in and playing musical starter which way do you want t come out, lol)

I'll go throw it back in after i smoke a cig in a few minutes.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[XLRVIII]

well Lux, what happened?
Did it start or are you still wrestling with it?

 

[Frogman]

Lux sucks at tEh reporting his progress.

Let's hope he didn't get his tongue stuck to the K-Member or something.

 

[unity]

Let's hope he didn't get his tongue stuck to the K-Member or something.

I think her learned the first time not to.

 

[Lux]

well Lux, what happened?
Did it start or are you still wrestling with it?

lol hell cheyah it started.

Its pretty easy, you gotta great it like the oil filter, one way in, one way out. LOL once you find it, its a breeze.

 

[Lux]

Lux sucks at tEh reporting his progress.

Let's hope he didn't get his tongue stuck to the K-Member or something.

lol now thats funny

I hope i never have to do that again, it was cold out.

 

[driller]

Glad you got it fixed. So was it the solenoid?

You can come and do my '96 anytime.

Outside.

In the snow.



At least it has stock manifolds.

 

[Lux]

Im thinkin thats the culprit and we dont offer a solenoid, only a whole starter, so i figured no biggie and i'd slap one in.

LOL thanks for the offer but i just did that yesterday for myself and it wasnt exactly what i'd call "fun"

 

[ford nut]

Gald you got it fixed.

Working on cars in the cold bites

 

[Cobramarkviii]

yeah my car does that some times when it sits for a while, i just keep turning the key and it clicks, but it will catch and start and will be fine, prob just bad contacts on the starter or solenoid