engine not starting on 97. No sounds, nothing

[drw18]

Ok so last week I tried starting my truck. All the accessory lights came on when it was in the ACC position. When I tried starting up, nothing happened. No noises, nothing. I tested the battery and that wasn't the problem. Then I replaced the starter motor. IT STARTED!!

4 days later the same problem is happening.


Any suggestions?

 

[yob_yeknom]

Check your connections. Make sure the ground wire is clean and making good connection.

 

[drw18]

ya the battery has a solid connection. My Accessories all come on. Its just that when I try and actually start the vehicle nothing happens. I get no sounds. I replaced the starter motor which did the trick temporarily but then the same problems started all over again.

 

[Alec]

I'd check the starter solenoid on the driver side fender.

 

[drw18]

well the starter motor is engaging, so wouldn't that mean that the starter solenoid works?? When i replaced the starter motor everything worked great again..... so perhaps the new stater motor that i put in is defective and i just need to replace it again.

 

[DonM]

Originally posted by drw18
well the starter motor is engaging, so wouldn't that mean that the starter solenoid works?? When i replaced the starter motor everything worked great again..... so perhaps the new stater motor that i put in is defective and i just need to replace it again.

Or you have a loose or bad wire some place around the Starter? Pop the hood and check the wires.

 

[yob_yeknom]

Check the connections at the starter and at the ground points. They can corrode or get enough crap on them over time and not be able to pull enough juice to start the engine. Also, follow the wires to the starter and check them for signs of corrosion.

 

[Mbrooks420]

My grandfather had this problem, and his was caused by battery acid leaking down into the cables. About 8 inches from the battery the wires were almost completely corroded thu.

 

[drw18]

SOLUTION

Thanks for the advice everyone. After replacing the starter motor and getting the battery tested I came to find out that the problem was the starter solenoid switch on the driver's side fender wall. It cost only 9 BUCKS AT AUTOZONE. I should have listened to Alec.

sincerely,
david

 

[Opera House]

You people with money!

I drilled mine open on my 97 and rebuilt it. Never get enough chances to use my pop rivet tool.

 

[drw18]

MORE PROBLEMS

Nevermind. I was wrong. It still works 99% of the time, but tonite when my friend and i were detailing my trim, the explorer decided it didnt want to start again. my friend pushed the truck and i tried starting it again once it was rolling, and it fired right up. we checked all the connections, and its fired the last 10 or so times ive started it. the only thing i havent done is replace the cables, any more ideas? im just worried about that 1% chance of the damn thing not starting.

btw. the explorer looks great with black trim instead of that crappy grey trim, ford should have done this from the start.

 

[Alec]

Replied to your PM. Please paste my reply here (I don't have a copy of it anymore) for everyone to see.

 

[drw18]

Building a Push Button Starter

From Alec:

Your starter solenoid on the fender should have 3 wires to it: 2 thick ones and one thin one. The thin one is the signal wire to send current to the starter.

Send 2 wires through the firewall into the cab: A fused power wire from the battery (fairly thick, 10 or 12 ga, 25 amp fuse) and another wire long enough to reach the starter solenoid. Connect these 2 inside the cab to the starter switch. Then just splice that second wire into the starter solenoid signal wire with a very good connection.

That's it, you're done.

 

[drw18]

Solutions

I installed the Push Button Starter and my truck works now. However, I would still like to find out what causes the actual problem. Any ideas?? It has something to do with the little red/blue wire on the starter solenoid NOT getting a good signal. It would be useful for us all to share ideas since so many people seem to be having this problem. I would like to fix it before I sell the truck.

Many Thanks,
David

 

[Opera House]

Next tome it won't start

Put the transmision in Neutral and see if it works. Likely problem is the safety switch or connector on transmission. Sometimes the only way to find these is to hook up some lamps along the way and wait for the next problem. One just after the key switch and after the safety interlock switch should do it.

 

[Alec]

My problem was the tranny safety switch, it didn't think it was in N or P. Fixed the tranny linkage and it starts up without any problems now.

 

[CodePoet]

I know this problem all too well. I have a 93 and it did the same damn thing...I would think it's ok (after a new battery) then a few days later nothing. I beleive that the starter relay was bad on mine. On the 93 it's mounted on the passenger side just besides the battery..it's looks like a little cylinder with a three or four posts on it where a number of wires connect. I haven't had a problem since **knock on wood**. If you've replaced the starter and the solinoid I would try the relay next. Good luck!

 

[drw18]

what does it take to fix the tranny linkage or the tranny safety switch Alec? I just put in a new transmission 2 months ago. maybe they screwed something up.


many thanks,
david

 

[DonM]

Yeah Im intertested in hearing how you found and made the fix Alec.

This starting problem has been driving me crazzyyy!!!

 

[Alec]

Dunno, it was something to do with the shift linkage. It was fixed under my tranny warranty.