Jacdanger7
New Member
- Joined
- August 28, 2012
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- San Jose, CA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1999 Exlporer XLT
Hi folks, newbie to the forum but hoping for some guidance. I read thru a number of similar "starter problem" threads but didn't really find where people had conclusively ID'd a cause.
Gave my '99 Explorer 4.0L XLT w/ automatic trans to my daughter -- ran great for me for 12 years so naturally it starts acting up now ;-)
Everything working normally until last night. I went to start it, key in the ignition, driver door open so interior lights on, etc. Turn key to start the engine -- one click, then everything goes dead. Interior lights are out, dash lights out, NOTHING appears to be getting power, let alone the starter. Take the key out of the ignition, close the door, raise the hood. Monkey around (mostly just look at things). Open driver door, lights come on! Try to start it, same result; one click then everything goes dead as a door nail.
Spent a few minutes looking at relay map in the owners manual, mess around under the hood again -- mostly just wiggling relays in the engine compartment fuse/relay box. Then open the driver door -- lights come on again! Key in the ignition and, miracle! Starts right up. Started just fine another 3 or 4 times. No issues. But now my daughter is driving it and this just doesn't sit well with me...
Read similar stories and lots of theories but didn't really see where someone had gotten to the bottom of the problem. It's clearly electrical and intermittent -- I'm thinking starter relay? theft system? or that transmission shifter position sensor that folks talk about? Simple wire corrosion??
Any of these 'notorious' for causing this kind of problem? I think the starter relay is relatively cheap so might just replace it anyway. Its always fun trouble-shooting "intermittent problems".... Any advice?
Gave my '99 Explorer 4.0L XLT w/ automatic trans to my daughter -- ran great for me for 12 years so naturally it starts acting up now ;-)
Everything working normally until last night. I went to start it, key in the ignition, driver door open so interior lights on, etc. Turn key to start the engine -- one click, then everything goes dead. Interior lights are out, dash lights out, NOTHING appears to be getting power, let alone the starter. Take the key out of the ignition, close the door, raise the hood. Monkey around (mostly just look at things). Open driver door, lights come on! Try to start it, same result; one click then everything goes dead as a door nail.
Spent a few minutes looking at relay map in the owners manual, mess around under the hood again -- mostly just wiggling relays in the engine compartment fuse/relay box. Then open the driver door -- lights come on again! Key in the ignition and, miracle! Starts right up. Started just fine another 3 or 4 times. No issues. But now my daughter is driving it and this just doesn't sit well with me...
Read similar stories and lots of theories but didn't really see where someone had gotten to the bottom of the problem. It's clearly electrical and intermittent -- I'm thinking starter relay? theft system? or that transmission shifter position sensor that folks talk about? Simple wire corrosion??
Any of these 'notorious' for causing this kind of problem? I think the starter relay is relatively cheap so might just replace it anyway. Its always fun trouble-shooting "intermittent problems".... Any advice?
