4.0 intermittent no start

[grfo]

Periodically when I go to turn the key to start my Explorer nothing will happen. The dash lights will come on but no click of the solenoid engaging the starter. I have a brand new battery and the terminals have been cleaned well.
I thought it might be the switch for the shifter when not in park?
It has not stranded me yet. But I am nervous
Any ideas?

 

[Zorin]

How many miles are on your Explorer?

It sounds to me like the solenoid in the starter is giving up. A quick test I use is to rapidly cycle the key between ON and START, and if that jolts it to life, it's likely a solenoid.

Another test is to slide under it, and tap the starter motor, and see if it fires up then.

Tim

 

[grfo]

127k miles

 

[Zorin]

It definitely could be going. Does all of your electrical goodies work correctly? There's a chance it could be the ignition switch, but that usually seems to happen more with people that have a big ring of keys with a lot of weight.

Tim

 

[grfo]

I have a simple key ring with just the house key and my car key and that's it.

When I put the battery in I cleaned up the terminals and spray the anticorrosion stuff on them. I'll crawl under it and check out what the wires look like on the starter too.