Turn Key = Click. Now What?

[iteotwawki]

My guess is that the signal wire from the solenoid is bad

Mr. Bobby, Can you provide a little more information about this signal wire? Where is it and more importantly what it looks like? Thanks.

 

[rickybobby]

it is the smaller wire that goes to the starter from the solenoid. Mine was red

 

[iteotwawki]

it is the smaller wire that goes to the starter from the solenoid. Mine was red

Thanks, I'll look tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get this sorted out. I hate electrical issues. With any luck I won't see fireworks under the hood.

 

[iteotwawki]

4 key turns...

4 engine starts. Agrh! This was not the issue yesterday and all it tells me is that I have an intermittent issue that is going to strand me at some location.

I will have the battery and alternator tested and report.

 

[iteotwawki]

the latest.

4 engine starts. Agrh! This was not the issue yesterday and all it tells me is that I have an intermittent issue that is going to strand me at some location.

I will have the battery and alternator tested and report.

Battery and alternator tested ok. The no start situation reared its ugly head again today. I broke out the test light and checked the solenoid on the fender well, and that checked out ok.

After a few minutes, I tried to start it again and the starter seemed to want to work, but it was turning over really slow. I'm thinking battery cables. What do you all think? :scratch:

 

[JDraper]

Bets on the positive battery cable having internal corrosion. Common issue in the Gen 1 explorers. Both of the Gen 1's I owned had that issue. If you have a multimeter you can test the cable for resistance. If it's more than a couple of ohms, it's probably bad.

Symptoms are every thing works, but the vehicle won't start. Acts a lot like a bad starter or solenoid.

 

[iteotwawki]

Went on a parts scavenger hunt and ...

Found what I was looking for at Napa Auto Parts. I was beginning to think I was going to have to roll my own but I got lucky and picked up OEM replacement cables. Going for the installation this afternoon. Of course it is flipping hot today.

 

[poppyseed]

for what its worth, BWD Part number S5049Z, and S5049P are garbage solenoids, second only to house brand solenoids. Tell the parts person you want BWD # S5049 with no suffix, much higher quality solenoid. Ive seen several of the others fail right out of the box or within a month.

 

[EastoutWest]

Found what I was looking for at Napa Auto Parts. I was beginning to think I was going to have to roll my own but I got lucky and picked up OEM replacement cables. Going for the installation this afternoon. Of course it is flipping hot today.

So did replacing the cable work? I have the same symptoms... Fortunately, I have a stick shift so I can usually get it going in a pinch. I dismantled and cleaned the battery terminals and posts, checked the battery water level, charged the battery - it was showing 12.7 volts. Turn key, click. Turn key, starter bumps. Turn key, starter turns slowly. Turn key, starter turns quickly and starts the truck. Turn off, starts, turn off, starts...

It's a 91 with what appears to be the original positive cable. When soaking the terminal in baking soda dilute to clean, the cable jacket was oozing green bubbles from under the insulation.

Well now that I've written all that out, it really seems to make sense it would be the cable... Thanks to all who contributed to this thread!

 

[iteotwawki]

The Post Mortem

The final resolution was to replace everything; starter, solenoid on the fender well and the battery cables. I bought this truck 2 years ago with only 113K miles on the clock and everything I replaced appeared to be OEM.

I started with the battery cables and broke the solenoid trying to loosen the nut. The final culprit was the starter.

Now it starts like a champ.