2013 Explorer Wouldn't Start

[crouse]

My wife took her 2013 Ford Explorer to the grocery store last night. She called and said it won't start, it just clicks. So I jump it and when we get home, I shut it off and it starts right up. This morning, it started just fine. I'll check the connections to the battery tonight. The battery is the original battery and the vehicle went into service in March of 2012, so it's about 4-1/2 years old. Wondering if anyone has had something similar. I'll probably just buy a new battery since winter is just around the corner here in Minnesota.

 

[sheltonfilms]

Take the vehicle to a local autoparts store and have them do a load test on it. They can do it in the car.

 

[blwnsmoke]

Sounds like the battery... many people have had the same issue and that's what it was.

Seems like the original batteries don'tasthma as long as purchased ones. Many have failed within warranty.. so many electronics on the vehicles including electric power steering, no wonder they don't last as long as they should.

 

[crouse]

I'll probably just buy a new battery since it's 4-1/2 years old.

 

[crouse]

My wife said that when she came out of the grocery store, the lights were on. Trying to figure out how that could be. I has push button start, so you have to put your foot on the brake then push the start button. Then you push the start button again to shut it off. If you just push the start button without putting your foot on the brake, the dash turns on like when you turn your key to the on position without starting the car. So I'm wondering if that's what she did? Seems strange it wouldn't shut down after a certain period of time. I'm going to have to do some testing maybe when it gets dark and see what happens.

 

[peterk9]

The battery saver program should have cut in after 10 minutes and shut everything off. The only thing it won't turn off is the parking lights.

Peter

 

[crouse]

She said she was in the store for at least 20 minutes. You wouldn't think the battery would go dead even after that period of time. But if the climate control fan was running too, that could have drawn the battery down faster.

 

[Halwg]

I always wonder why folks wait until their batteries fail to replace them. I just replaced the battery om my 2012 Nissan Murano. The car went into service 11/2011. Knowing it was going on 5 years old, I had it tested, and as I suspected, it did not pass. Paying $109 for a new battery and not having my original battery fail and having to get jumped is worth it to me.

I think if you have a 4 year old battery, get it tested, and if in doubt, replace it. The Murano is my wife's car and the last thing I want is her to be stranded because of a dead battery. Your wife should be putting her boot up your rear end for letting this happen.

 

[champco]

As said have the battery tested. Did you inspect it yourself?
As for winter coming you will know if cold will cause failure but it will have to drop below zero and you know this. At that time you will have a very slow crank but it may still start. That,s when you replace the battery.
Have you had any codes pulled? I think there may be a way to pull them yourself with the MFT. Open the manual.

Good luck to you. I drive to lakeville often. PM me if you wish.

 

[Odrapnew]

She said she was in the store for at least 20 minutes. You wouldn't think the battery would go dead even after that period of time. But if the climate control fan was running too, that could have drawn the battery down faster.

The battery saver should shut off the inside accessories before killing the battery.

You mention she said the lights were on, which ones? If she turned on headlight switch to On, I don't think they will shut off until the battery is dead(someone correct me if that's wrong).

With the battery being over 4 years old, it could be getting weak and it wouldn't take much to discharge it. My wife's CX9 was that way before we replaced the battery(didn't take much to drain it).

I concur with others, get it tested and if marginal, replace. As a fellow Minnesotan, I know the toll that cold weather can have on batteries(maybe not a bad as Canada).

BTW, Rosemount, eh? I rented a townhouse in that area for about 5 months while we were in between houses(this spring/summer sucked to buy a house, nothing on the market). Nice area, but was a hell of a drive for my wife(almost 40 miles one way for work).

 

[peterk9]

The battery saver should shut off the inside accessories before killing the battery.

You mention she said the lights were on, which ones? If she turned on headlight switch to On, I don't think they will shut off until the battery is dead(someone correct me if that's wrong).

see post 6

 

[mrnavy2]

4 1/2 years old + problem starting + winter comming = new battery just my opinion