2004 Explorer not starting

[christnick]

Hi all,
I'm having some trouble: my 2004 explorer has decided not to start. Basically I drove it home from work on day and everything was running really well. The next morning as when I got in the car to drive to the airport (great timing) it won't start. When I turn the key I get nothing. I get some beeps from inside but I can't hear anything from the engine. Its not trying to turn over at all.
Here is what I know / think I know so far.

1. I dont think its a flat battery - there is 12.5 volts across the terminals and I did try jump start it with my neighbours truck with the same result.
2. From other posts i've read it might be something to do with anti theft?? How do I know if the car has anti theft? There is a little red light that flashes at the bottom of the wind screen. I've never really paid attention to it before. I do have 2 keys and neither of them work.
3. I've tried locking /unlocking with the keyless entry on the key / using the number combination on the door
4. the battery terminals are pretty corosion free

Any help is greatly appreciated... i'm not that great with cars and to be honest I would drive it to a mechanic if I could move it!

Could it be a problem with the starter motor? How can I test to see if the starter motor is still alive?
Could it be a fuse?

I'm going to keep trying,

Thanks,
Nick

 

[imp]

Hi all,
I'm having some trouble: my 2004 explorer has decided not to start. Basically I drove it home from work on day and everything was running really well. The next morning as when I got in the car to drive to the airport (great timing) it won't start. When I turn the key I get nothing. I get some beeps from inside but I can't hear anything from the engine. Its not trying to turn over at all.
Here is what I know / think I know so far.

1. I dont think its a flat battery - there is 12.5 volts across the terminals and I did try jump start it with my neighbours truck with the same result.
2. From other posts i've read it might be something to do with anti theft?? How do I know if the car has anti theft? There is a little red light that flashes at the bottom of the wind screen. I've never really paid attention to it before. I do have 2 keys and neither of them work.
3. I've tried locking /unlocking with the keyless entry on the key / using the number combination on the door
4. the battery terminals are pretty corosion free

Any help is greatly appreciated... i'm not that great with cars and to be honest I would drive it to a mechanic if I could move it!

Could it be a problem with the starter motor? How can I test to see if the starter motor is still alive?
Could it be a fuse?

I'm going to keep trying,

Thanks,
Nick

Of course, it can! The starter motor has incorporated within it's construction a solenoid which is activated by the ignition switch. If the solenoid's coil is burned out, no sound, no "click" will be heard, assuming battery voltage is being directed to it by the ignition switch.

I would first do a more comprehensive battery check. Have someone turn the key to "start" while you observe the indicated battery voltage. If it is seen to drop appreciably, the battery is probably not delivering adequate power, or the voltage which should be present at the starter is being dropped significantly somewhere between the battery posts and the starter. If battery voltage remains completely unchanged at 12.5V while keyed to "start", the starter is not drawing any current. At that point, I would remove the starter, and take it to one of the many parts stores which will check it free of charge. imp