Help! I don't know what's wrong!!!!

[madison99]

won't start, but not battery

I drive a 97 Ford Explorer. Lately, it's been giving me trouble. The battery is not the problem. In the mornings, no matter what the weather, I have to hold down the accelerator for a few minutes (to warm it up?) otherwise, it cuts off. The engine light was on, but is off now. I've also had problems with the truck starting. Once at work, it just wouldn't turn over, yet all the lights were working, etc. A co-worker told me to take off the battery cables, let it sit a minute, then put them back on and try to start it. It worked and I've since had to do this about 3 other times. Last night at work, this happened again. I had guys helping me...charging the battery (apparently not the problem) and racking their (drunk) brains trying to figure out what's wrong with this car!! Anyway, my husband said something about an emmisions sensor or some type of solanoid, but husband knows more about motorcycles than cars.... Does anyone have any ideas as to what the problem is???? This is costing me not only money but headaches! I took the explorer to the Ford dealership about 1 month ago, they hooked it up to their computer (?) but couldn't find anything wrong with it...they sure charged me $60 though!!

Any ideas??

Thank you!
Lori

 

[Jim F]

Sounds to me like a dirty battery cable connection. Get a wire battery terminal cleaner at a local auto parts place and clean both the posts on the battery and the inside the cable ends. Over time the cable connections can get a layer of "stuff" that causes a resistance. This causes a reduction in the connection being able to deliver the high current needed to start an engine. And yes this can be intermittent. Moist weather usually amplifies this problem. I've had this problem on a car and finally found it. Hope this helps.

ps. You would think Ford would have tried this, but just in case, it an idea.

 

[jimbo74]

the cables may even need replacing...... not expensive but at least it should either help isolate the problem or solve it completely....... also about the solenoid. it could be the starter solenoid but i would check out the cables first.....

 

[TPLYNCH]

If it is idling roughly, your Idle Air Control (IAC) sensor may need to be replaced.