PLEASE HELP!

[dannyh113]

Hello friends, I don't know what in the world is going on with my 08 ford explorer I replaced the valve cover gaskets put it all back together and everything was fine except I had a fuel leak at 1 of the injectors. So I fixed that issue ( I think anyway) but now when I turn the key to on the check engine light and oil light stay on the engine light will flash and if I turn key to start it instantly kills everything I have no power to the vehicle for a few hours then eventually power will return. I'm stumped please help!

 

[Mbrooks420]

Sounds like a bad electrical connection. Did you disconnect any ground straps? What’s the battery voltage?

 

[dannyh113]

Sounds like a bad electrical connection. Did you disconnect any ground straps? What’s the battery voltage?

Battery voltage is 12v but i have not disconnected any grounds

 

[Mbrooks420]

Battery voltage is 12v but i have not disconnected any grounds

If it’s 12.0 the battery is half dead.

 

[dannyh113]

If it’s 12.0 the battery is half dead.

Battery reads 12.7 volts and everything is completely dead no headlights or dash lights. So that wouldn't be a pats issue correct?

 

[Mbrooks420]

Battery reads 12.7 volts and everything is completely dead no headlights or dash lights. So that wouldn't be a pats issue correct?

Correct, this isn’t a PATS issue. You likely have a cable or connection issue. Clean the terminals and inspect the car boing you can see.

 

[dannyh113]

Correct, this isn’t a PATS issue. You likely have a cable or connection issue. Clean the terminals and inspect the car boing you can see.

 

[dannyh113]

Turned out being the ignition switch. I don't understand why it would kill power to everything including my headlights when I tried to start it, but I put a new switch in and it started right up.

 

[Mbrooks420]

When you turn the key to start it is supposed to kill everything else, so it has all the juice for the starter.

 

[dannyh113]

When you turn the key to start it is supposed to kill everything else, so it has all the juice for the starter.

Okay but when it killed everything it would stay dead for a while. And when I changed the ignition switch it started right up then after I put everything back together it started doing the same thing again so I have a short somewhere, unless it's the starter solenoid but I just replaced it a few months ago.

 

[Mbrooks420]

I would try swapping the relays around in the underhood power distribution box.