New member......Help!!!!!

[Machspeed]

Hi, I'm new to to site but there seems to be a lot of useful knowledge here. I came across this forum while trying to troubleshoot an issue I am having with my wife's 2004 Mercury Mountaineer. It was working fine until she stopped at a store and then it would not start. The starter will not engage using the key. I believe the starter is good and I have been able to make it turn using a wired remote starter button. I tried starting it with the key in the on/run position and manual engage the starter using button. I expected it to start but it did not. I checked and the coil is firing when the engine is spinning. I know it's not the best idea but I sprayed a little starting fluid in the intake tube and the engine fired up. This tells me I'm not getting any fuel also. After digging into it more something seems odd to me with the starter relay. The 30 location is getting positive(+) power all the time. 86 is getting positive(+) power when the key is turned to the start position.87, which goes the solenoid on the starter, is showing ground(-). 85 shows positive(+) when the key is turned to the start position but only when the relay is in place. Does this sound correct. I thought in this arrangement the 85 position would be ground and 87 would receive power when the 86 location was engaged. I think I'm either missing a ground somewhere or I have a short. Where does the underhood fuse box get it's ground connection? I know the fuse box has been opened up before by a previous owner who installed an "antitheft" switch in the orange and black wire between the diode and pcm relay. I will have to figure out my fuel issue as well but I think the two are related.

Sorry if I'm not allowed to post questions in this thread.

Thank you for any information.

 

[donalds]

What's the theft light doing during all this

Try a different key if you have it

The anti theft system cuts power to the fuel injectors

 

[Machspeed]

What's the theft light doing during all this

Try a different key if you have it

The anti theft system cuts power to the fuel injectors

Thank you for your reply but we have two keys. I've tried both of them and checked the transceiver in the column. I even swapped the transceiver out with another one
I had.

 

[donalds]

What's the light doing
Flashing really fast while cranking

 

[donalds]

Did you try to start it in neutral or wiggle the shift lever

 

[Machspeed]

What's the light doing
Flashing really fast while cranking

It dosen't flash

Did you try to start it in neutral or wiggle the shift lever

The light doesn't flash fast. I tried wiggling the shifter and starting in neutral.

 

[Machspeed]

It dosen't flash

The light doesn't flash fast. I tried wiggling the shifter and starting in neutral.

Should the 87 location on the starter relay have a ground(-) when the ignition is off? Location 87 is the smaller wire that goes to the starter solenoid. I could be wrong but that doesn't seem right to me.

 

[donalds]

Honestly I'm more knowledgeable on the 95-2001 models and some other models
Don't worry someone will have a diagram for ya

Try to swap that relay with another if you haven't already

 

[Machspeed]

Honestly I'm more knowledgeable on the 95-2001 models and some other models
Don't worry someone will have a diagram for ya

Try to swap that relay with another if you haven't already

Thanks for trying. I have a '99 and have little to no problems with it.

 

[donalds]

Yea I like my 99 to
Click the link in my signature below

 

[Mike65]

Machspeed, welcome to the forum. Sounds to me like a problem with the neutral safety switch. Here are a couple links on how to test it.

How to Test a Gear Range Sensor - Neutral Safety Switch

Repair guides, articles and advice for car owners, enthusiasts and repair technicians.

www.2carpros.com

How to Test and Adjust a Neutral Safety Switch

How to adjust, test, or replace the neutral safety switch on your manual or automatic transmission.

axleaddict.com

 

[Machspeed]

Machspeed, welcome to the forum. Sounds to me like a problem with the neutral safety switch. Here are a couple links on how to test it.

How to Test a Gear Range Sensor - Neutral Safety Switch

Repair guides, articles and advice for car owners, enthusiasts and repair technicians.

www.2carpros.com

How to Test and Adjust a Neutral Safety Switch

How to adjust, test, or replace the neutral safety switch on your manual or automatic transmission.

axleaddict.com

Would the neutral safety switch kill power to the fuel pump or injectors?

Machspeed, welcome to the forum. Sounds to me like a problem with the neutral safety switch. Here are a couple links on how to test it.

How to Test a Gear Range Sensor - Neutral Safety Switch

Repair guides, articles and advice for car owners, enthusiasts and repair technicians.

www.2carpros.com

How to Test and Adjust a Neutral Safety Switch

How to adjust, test, or replace the neutral safety switch on your manual or automatic transmission.

axleaddict.com

Would the neutral safety switch affect the fuel pump or injectors? I thought it only controIed the starter and backup lights.

 

[donalds]

It would cause your exact problem

That's why I asked if you tried starting it while moving the shifter lever but that trick don't always work

 

[Machspeed]

It would cause your exact problem

That's why I asked if you tried starting it while moving the shifter lever but that trick don't always work

I'll check it out today

 

[iowa_hick]

Check fuse 41 in the power distribution box under the hood. That's the PCM fuse. Mine did the exact same thing and that fuse was blown. That will kill power to the starter and fuel pump. It's fairly common for the cord from one of the O2 sensors to hang down and rub on the front driveshaft until it causes a short and blows that fuse.

Good luck!
Jake

 

[Machspeed]

Would the neutral safety switch kill power to the fuel pump or injectors?

Would the neutral safety switch affect the fuel pump or injectors? I thought it only controIed the starter and backup lights.

My work schedule this week has kept me from project until today. I replaced the neutral safety switch. I found that the old one had had a contact intermediate. I have checked all of the fuses and they are good. Same goes for all the relays. I am still having the same issue. I have tried adjusting the new neutral safety switch but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I checked the ignition switch and all of the wires are sending out power. The fuel pump is coming on and getting fuel to the rails but the injectors are opening when I turn the engine with the wired remote starter button and the ignition turned to the run position. I believe I possibly have a wire issue on the starter and fuel injector circuits. Does anyone have a wire diagram available for these circuits? Or maybe have an idea of what else to check. I was working with limited time today so I didn't get to check the wires going to the neutral safety switch but plan to do that in the morning.

 

[1sicbronconut]

Just guessing here (30+ year Ford tech) but I'm guessing as someone else had that either your PCM isn't powering up or is bad. The fuel injectors should have a constant 12volts on one side and the PCM fires them with a ground signal on the other wire. Have you tried scanning it? code readers can be had for low$$ and might help you quite a bit. I'd get a wiring diagram and check all of your power and grounds at the PCM.