2001 Explorer Sport Wont Start

[Zeonstar]

Hey all!

First off I'm new here. Been looking around the internet for about a day to find the answer to my issue, found these forums and thought it would be a good place to just ask my question.

My wife has a 2001 Explorer Sport (I don't think it's a Trac) and as of yesterday, it simply wont start. I used it about 4 days ago to run a local errand and everything was fine. She went to use it last night and it just wont start.

All it does it make a clicking sound and the lights flash inside the vehicle. It doesn't sound at all like it's even attempting to turn over. Just today I cleaned the battery connectors, which were pretty dirty, but it didn't help. I really don't think this is a battery related problem, but that's what I tried. All the lights seem to come on normally, and the radio works.

This hit us at a really bad time financially, but are still hoping to at least figure out the cause. I pretty much have no car repair experience just to warn you.

Thanks for any help you can offer. =)

 

[bdmaash]

sounds like a weak/almost dead battery
if you're luck all you need is a new battery
if you're not, it will be the charging system (the alternator)

edit: those are my first guesses
next would be a seized A/C pump - to test for that, take off the fan belt, and try starting the truck without it.

 

[Zeonstar]

Me and her went out there tonight when she got home and really, really cleaned the hell out of the battery again. Took off the connectors, used stuff to clean the corrosion out, and scrubbed everything heavily...and it worked.

I guess the corrosion was pretty damn well caked on there. I don't really understand how all the electrics work fine with corrosion, but the car didn't start, but that was the case.

Tried starting the car about 5 times and it's working fine now. Think we still might need a new battery though?