Irregular - No Start Problem

[Mirgon]

97 xlt rwd with 140k miles

Having an issue with the car not re-starting if driven short distances.

Symptoms are that on turning the key, we get the ignition lights and bells - but the car won't start (circuit seems dead).

Only solution so far is to wait up to 10 minutes without "trying the ignition" to let whatever isn't recharging clear itself.

I might be way off, but this seems like some type of relay that has gone/is going bad.

Any ideas are appreciated.

danmirgon@yahoo.com

 

[rego]

Won't turn over (starter) , or won't fire?

 

[Mirgon]

No electronic activity - ignition circuit is dead.

 

[1AJeremyD]

is it only short trips or both short and long? could be the coil. resistance in the coil might make the coil overheat and break a connection

 

[marsig1]

Had similiar issues in my 95 XLT 4.0 which seemed to only happen when it got hot. I would drive it for 15-20 minutes and turn it off. I would come back a few minutes later and turned the key but nothing. All the lights, gauages and chimes would work but nothing when i turned the key to start postion. (It was just like a dead battery.) Turned out to be severely corroded battery cables (on the inside) and a weak battery. Everything else checked out good on mine including coil, alternator starter etc. Put the new cables and a new battery and it did the trick. It amazes me how much power there is turning over the engine now.

 

[Mirgon]

Thank You

Thanks for the battery suggestion - I'll give that a try.

 

[jrapp]

my problem is no power at all. had the battery tested and told it was good. need help with my 94 explorer sport. my battery is good but i have no power at all. any ideas? i just replaced water pump and had to jump start it, it ran for 10 min then i went to put it in gear and test drive it. When i stepped on the brake it died, took battery in got it charged hooked it back up and nothing.

 

[ronin2501]

I had this exact same problem two summers ago. It only happened during the summer when it was at it's hottest. After a lot of testing here is what I found. After the relay was energized once it would quickly heat up and would fail to actuate a second time. Tapping on it would occasionally get it to click. The same thing happened to my Fuel Pump relay after a short drive...then my power windows...I replaced all the relays in my truck and I haven't had this problem for two years now.