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HELP ! will not start but battery is ok

modswap

Well-Known Member
Joined
April 22, 2002
Messages
118
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City, State
Salem, VA
Year, Model & Trim Level
'98 LIMITED
My explorer will not start - when I turn it over is just clicks - no other noises just click - and nothing - it happened once befor elike 3 months ago then I let it sit for 20 min then it worked - the sterion and evrything else works -

What could it be?

It is in parke I turn the key it clicks and no start

help me trouble shoot it - its a 98 and have had no problems till this.
 



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My brother and I both had similar problems ('93 X and '91 X). If I remember correctly, one of the cables to the battery was corroded on his, and mine was the starter. I don't know how the setups are on the '98s, but maybe this will help?
 






It sounds to me like the solenoid (sp?) is working (thats what makes the clicking sound) but the starter is not engaging. There are two things that could cause this. First would be, no power to the starter (see above responce). Second would be, the starter is stuck. Have someone try starting your X while you lay under it and tap the starter with a hammer. If it starts you need to replace the starter (the windings have a bad spot). If neither of these help I can't say where to go withought anymore information, ie. is there power to the starter, is it a full 12 volts, does the power drop below 10 volts when you try to start it, can you turn the engine over by hand, etc...
 






i agree... if the solenoid is clicking over and you have power but no cranking, than probably a bad starter or too much wire resistance due to corrosion
 






WORKS FINE NOW??!?!?

IT WORKS FINE NOW!?!?


Well the battery looks fine and all the cables are clean I even had it tested at advanced auto they said it was ok....

Well see- I left it sitting for about 20 minutes without touching it and then it started and is acting like nothing ever happened....

I test started it 20 times after this and it is working fine now -

This happened like 2 months ago and I thought it was a fluke - and well I gues sit may be that teh starter is going bad and is trying to give me a warning?

The question is, am I goingto do something about it now or wait till it leaves me on teh side of the road another day....

Knowing me.... I WILL WAIT! :)

Thanks
 






Sounds like a dead spot, it'll reappear at the worst time.
 






Sounds like the cables. That is what happened to me a number of times. It would start sometimes then others it would not and I would have to push start it. Trust me it's probably the cables, they tend to get bad from the inside out. Once in a while they will get moved enough so that current can get through other times they will be wrong again.
 






Ok it did it again!

Here is what happened:

I drove around today for about an hour and a half, nothing ruff - just street from here to there.

I then went to the store to get a movie (new Jack Black movie) I turn the car off go in the store come out and BAM it will not start !!!

New discovery - ok when I turn the key it makes one click and sometime a few electrical things beep and so on... but anyway under the drivers site in the front I here something that sounds like a really faint garble like water or a faint "growl" like a little motor trying to run...


Well I let it sit for about 30 minutes again and it started. My wife and I were thinking it had something to do with the temp of the car or elect..

Any other ideas??

thanks its a 98 limited with 50k miles on it
 






one more thing

The key pads that unlock and lock the doors (keyless entry) they stopped working after this all happened - just all of a sudden they dont work neither one of the - I have two ...

Thanks

HELP!!!
 






Don't know why the key pads quit working, but rhe noise you hear is the starter trying to turn, but due to the extreem amounts of amperage it is drawing it is unsble to. I seriously recomend replacing the starter and the positive battery cable.
 






yeah i go with mikes idea.........
 






You may have lost your key pads because you put it in program mode by turning the key on and off a few times . I think it's 3 times then you press the lock button on each remote and it will cycle the door locks . Someone might be able to give you a clearer explanation than me since I have not programmed any in 8 or 9 months .
Id replace both your cables , but it sounds like the starter is going toasty . Most times when you get a starter hot (like when driving the truck) it will cause it to stick the next time you use it . Many starters that are F'd up will start fine when cold . Yours sounds like the same thing , starts cold ... not hot .
Atleast remove the starter and take to to you local autoparts store(Autozone, etc.) and have them check it . If it is sticky they can tell from the extra amp draw . If your tired of it not starting , replace the cables (all , from battery to ground , positive , and if there is one from the soleinoid to the starter , it also) and replace the starter . Only other thing that could cause any trouble would be either a relay (which I doubt) or the starter soleinoid . The soleinoid might click but still malfunction as all it has inside is a electro-magnet and a small plate that is drawn in by the magnet that makes contact to send voltage to the starter . The truck might not even have a remote soleinoid , it may be directly on the starter .
Replace the cables first , if it does it again ,do the starter .
Also if it's a manual shift tranny (Idoubt since it's a limited) the clutch safety switch could be a bugger but most times you won;t hear the "click" . Lastly , the automatic has a neutral safety switch on it also to prevent starting the engine while in gear .
:)
 












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