starter problem

[eaglesdontflock]

ok, they say they have fixed the problem in my daughter's truck - the 1997 Explorer Sport. It was a bad starter switch???? Help...something new every time. The starter they replaced was only two years old, but they said it tested faulty. So they put in a new one, and the vehicle wouldn't start the first time she tried it after picking it up. She's 800 miles away and I can't tell if she's getting ripped or what.

 

[X24]

Does the starter engage and the motor not fire or is there nothing? Maybe a dead spot on the flywheel?

 

[eaglesdontflock]

Ok, this is turning into a saga. The 1997 Ford Explorer Sport. She picked up her vehicle, drove 5 miles, parked it. Sat for 15 minutes, tried to start it -- nothing. A few clicks and all the ignition lights but no crank. Sat for another 15 minutes, then started and died right away. This after three trips to the dealer, a new starter, a new starter switch and $443 wasted. Now the dealer is doing a song and dance. They won't give me the old starter back because they say they disposed of it already, they won't give me my money back. What do I do now.

 

[X24]

Obviously they are diagnosing the problem wrong... either that or they see your innocent daughter with a checkbook and no automotive knowledge and are just making a buck. Probably diagnosing wrong. Call Ford Customer Service and tell them the situation... it can't hurt. It's hard to try to figure out what the problem is 800 miles away so the phone is really your only option. It sounds like a sensor problem because the it starts sometimes and doesnt others and it dies. The first thing I would do is reset the computer by disconnecting the negative battery cable for a while (like 15 mins or something). See what that does. Does your daughter have a large male that could accompany her to the dealer or anyone with some automotive knowledge? The service department has tried to pull the wool over my eyes a few times and I love it because I know what they are trying to do and most of the time when I bring my truck in for service I already know exactly what has to be done (thanks to this board) so I tell them like it is. Besides, they should take one look at my truck and realize that I'm into cars and not pull that, but whatever. The people at the service department might not care about an unhappy customer, but the people higher up in the company do. I say call customer servce.