HELP.....2002 Explorer Sport won't turn over

[dwil4]

It was running one morning and hasn't cranked since. It won't even turn over. No the battery is not dead. My wife drove it to town and when she got home I was checked all the fuses to find out why none of the interior lights work and it hasn't turned over since. Ignition switch just suddenly go bad? I just bought it about 4 days before this happened. If I can find the starter I'm gonna try the screwdriver in the starter trick to see if it will turn over then. Any ideas?

 

[Mbrooks420]

Check your cables.

 

[dwil4]

I haven't checked the "cabes" yet but I tried jumping it off with jumper cables . I am gonna check the cables when I get home later

 

[fordysenior]

Same thing happened to me while I was out of town and filling up with gas -- went to start it, and it wouldn't even click. Turned out to be a wire at the starter -- according to the shop that fixed it. Apparently, it was an easy fix, they didn't charge me for it.

 

[dwil4]

If I can find the starter on mine I'm gonna try the Ole stick the screwdriver in the starter trick

 

[Thefordgirl]

I had a similar situation only I was driving and everything just died on me. It was the crank/drive shaft. It literally just fell apart, I highly recommend getting the "kit" which includes the crank shaft pulley which until that day I didn't even know existed. Best of luck to you and most importantly...It wasn't your wife's fault by any means, it just happens.

It was running one morning and hasn't cranked since. It won't even turn over. No the battery is not dead. My wife drove it to town and when she got home I was checked all the fuses to find out why none of the interior lights work and it hasn't turned over since. Ignition switch just suddenly go bad? I just bought it about 4 days before this happened. If I can find the starter I'm gonna try the screwdriver in the starter trick to see if it will turn over then. Any ideas?

,

 

[Mbrooks420]

Not sure what a “crank drive shaft” is. I’m guessing it’s got nothing to do with those parts.

 

[dwil4]

Not sure what a “crank drive shaft” is. I’m guessing it’s got nothing to do with those parts.

Lol, I was gonna ask the same thing but didn't wanna be a butthole.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Maybe she’s referring to the camshaft synchronizer.

 

[TechGuru]

What is the status of your PATS light in the dash when the key is on?

 

[dwil4]

What is the status of your PATS light in the dash when the key is on?

I don't know what a PATS light is. I stuck a screwdriver between the 2 poles on the starter yesterday and the starter would spin but I only got it to engage and turn the motor over once. I had the switch in the on position while trying this

 

[Mbrooks420]

Theft light is PATS. If it’s flashing rapidly it doesn’t detect the key.

 

[dwil4]

Theft light is PATS. If it’s flashing rapidly it doesn’t detect the key.

It is flashing even with the key out but not rapidly

 

[dwil4]

Anymore thoughts? I tried about 10 different "anti theft disable" methods but none worked. I also looked and looked but found not button or switch under the dash eigher

 

[TechGuru]

It is flashing even with the key out but not rapidly

What is it doing with the key in the ON position. It should do nothing/off. If it blinks rapidly with the key on then your ECU has lost it's PATS programming.

 

[TechGuru]

I stuck a screwdriver between the 2 poles on the starter yesterday and the starter would spin but I only got it to engage and turn the motor over once. I had the switch in the on position while trying this

Sounds like you're jumping it wrong. You don't jump the two large nuts, that just gets power to the motor and does not enguage the solnoid to kick the gear out to enguage the flywheel. The proper way is to use a piece of wire between the positive battery terminal and the small spade connector wire on the starter.

 

[TechGuru]

Anymore thoughts? I tried about 10 different "anti theft disable" methods but none worked. I also looked and looked but found not button or switch under the dash eigher

There is no way to disable it other than replacing the ECU with a non-PATS ECU.

 

[dwil4]

1) The THEFT light flashes every 2 or 3 seconds when the switch is on ,off or if you take the key out. It's never a rapid flash.
2) Well I guess I was trying to jump it wrong Lol. and the one time it did engage I must have hit the other wire.
3) I meant reset the Anti theft not disable.
I tried several ways that I read on the net to reset it but nothing worked.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Theres nothing to reset. It’s passive anti theft. It sees the key or it doesn’t. If it’s not flashing fast while trying to turn over PATS isn’t your problem. You probably just have a bad starter or solenoid.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Check for voltage at the solenoid. The small connection on it should see 12v with the key turned to start.

There’s not going to be some magic trick online to fix this. You’re barking up the wrong tree.

You most likely have
1. A bad cable/connection.
2. A bad solenoid.
3. A failing starter.
4. Failed ignition switch.