Novice Question

[tkane]

Wife's 2000 Explorer started not wanting to start durring the last month. It has basically been raining cats and dogs in the Northeast for the past month.

Anyways, I have been able to get the truck started with an occasional spray of WD40 to the contacts on the spark plug wires. Today, after more rain, (and the truck not starting) I attempted to change the wires. I believe I have done this correctly, however, the truck will still not turn over.

Do I continue to spray WD40 onto the contacts of the wires? If this works, does this mean the coil is bad and needs to be replaced?
If there is water in the coil now, will this eventually dry out and the new wires seal things up?

Like the title states, very much a novice under the hood and any help or guidance will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Gus Gorilla]

If the truck won't turn over at all then it is something else, not the spark plug wires. If it cranks but won't start it could be the coil/wires. Make sure you have the wires in the correct location and seated fully on the coil.

 

[tkane]

Thanks Gus,

I have given up for the night. How would I easily go about testing the coil? Should I just spray another shot onto the terminals/coils and see if she starts?

 

[sne43]

I would not recommend putting WD40 on the coils. Simply clean them off and try seating them more firmly. If this does not work, you may have a problem with the starter/solenoid since it does not turn over at all. Do you even get a "clicking" sound when you turn the key?

If you don't hear clicking I copied this from another post. Worth a try given all the rain, moisture could be having an effect. "could be the starter or starter related. What I recommend doing is putting the key to the ON position and getting a screw driver or pair of pliers and hit the two terminal ends on the starter solenoid on the drivers side fender well in the engine compartment. If the truck turns over, then chances are the starter solenoid is bad or the wires to it. If you hear the starter trying to start but it doesn't wanna turn over, you can try tapping on the starter while cranking the truck over. I would recommend checking for spark. You can pull a wire off a spark plug or just test the coil pack with a multimeter. Hopefully one of the above mentioned methods will work."

 

[tkane]

no clicking noise, doesn't sound like a starter going bad to me. I'm really thinking that issue is inside the coil as spraying that before was enough to get the car starter. Starting to wonder if there is not water trapped in there. ....

 

[71cutty455]

Is it cranking at all? Or just completely dead?

If it cranks but just won't start then it could also be a fuel issue. Do you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn the key to the on position? You should hear a hiss for maybe 2-3 seconds when you turn it to the on position. If you don't hear the hiss then check the fuel pump relay/fuses.

If it's not cranking at all and you don't hear the starter solenoid clicking then it could also mean the battery just may be completely dead. Just try to jump it if that's the case. If there is still no clicking then it probably is a bad solenoid.

 

[tkane]

cranks, just does not start.

I do hear the hiss. Which is what I think its igition, but I don't know for sure.
Plan on checking all my connections tomorrow.

Thanks for the help so far.

 

[techieman33]

You haven't mentioned the plugs themselves what kind of shape are they in?

 

[tkane]

Plugs seem ok, went out again and checked all of the connections with no luck.
Will wait one more day, then i think its off to the mechanic.