BlindFaith429
Member
- Joined
- December 9, 2014
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Connecticut
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2009 Ford Escape Sport
I bought a 1999 Ford Explorer Sport to drive as a work-beater while the wife gets to drive the nicer Escape.
Been having some issues recently with the Explorer not starting. The Explorer is a 5-speed stick, with the overhead valve V6, and roughly 170,000 on it. It runs and drives great, just not the prettiest car in the lot (little rust on the rockers).
So what's been happening is that I get in, push the clutch and brake petal in, and then turn the key. Sometimes it will start, sometimes not. When it doesnt start, all the lights come on on the dash, and it doesnt turn over. It acts the same way as if I try to start the explorer without having the clutch petal in.
I notice it does it more often after it rains. I have to jiggle the key, press and release the clutch petal a few times, and try turning the key off and on a few times, then it starts.
I did a little research on the issue, but the only thing I found was people with automatic transmissions having the same issue, and the recommended fix was that the neutral sensor was bad and to start the explorer in neutral rather than park.
With this in mind, I tried to start the explorer with the stick in between gears (with the clutch still pushed in) and the same thing, which makes me think that's not it.
It is almost like the sensor / switch, that tells the computer that the clutch it pressed, is going bad.
During a warm, dry week, I have no issues at all. Starts right up.
But after a rain storm, that next morning it might have issues. Doesn't always do it after rain, but the chances of it happening are higher after rain.
Anybody know where I should start to look or what to replace? I'm hoping it's a simple fix.
Thanks!
Been having some issues recently with the Explorer not starting. The Explorer is a 5-speed stick, with the overhead valve V6, and roughly 170,000 on it. It runs and drives great, just not the prettiest car in the lot (little rust on the rockers).
So what's been happening is that I get in, push the clutch and brake petal in, and then turn the key. Sometimes it will start, sometimes not. When it doesnt start, all the lights come on on the dash, and it doesnt turn over. It acts the same way as if I try to start the explorer without having the clutch petal in.
I notice it does it more often after it rains. I have to jiggle the key, press and release the clutch petal a few times, and try turning the key off and on a few times, then it starts.
I did a little research on the issue, but the only thing I found was people with automatic transmissions having the same issue, and the recommended fix was that the neutral sensor was bad and to start the explorer in neutral rather than park.
With this in mind, I tried to start the explorer with the stick in between gears (with the clutch still pushed in) and the same thing, which makes me think that's not it.
It is almost like the sensor / switch, that tells the computer that the clutch it pressed, is going bad.
During a warm, dry week, I have no issues at all. Starts right up.
But after a rain storm, that next morning it might have issues. Doesn't always do it after rain, but the chances of it happening are higher after rain.
Anybody know where I should start to look or what to replace? I'm hoping it's a simple fix.
Thanks!