Turn the Key and......Nothing

[apuszczalowski]

So its another month and another problem with my SOHC v6 Explorer. The last few days I have had an "off and on" probloem which involves my Explorer leaving me stranded. It seems at night that when I go to start it up, I turn the key and I get nothing. The dash lights come on, the guages move and go to their normal spots, but the truck won't crank over. Theres no "click" like what you get when the battery is low (which it does not seem to be) and no noise from the starter. It does nothing but light up like its trying to start, but won't crank the motor. I was stranded wednesday night and had to leave it out of town in a parking lot over night, then when I came back Thursday afternoon to get it and take a look, it started immediatly. I drove it the next day no problem until after work I went out with some of the guys after our Friday night hockey game and again, same problem, turn the key and nothing but lights. So I left it there overnight, went back Saturday afternoon to get it and it started up just fine. No Saturday night I went to leave the house and it again wouldn't start. I tried it later in the evening and it still wouldn't start.

I was thinking that it possibly, but not likely, could be the battery, but most likely a starter issue. I had a similar problem with a Jeep years ago and a mechanic told me it was the starter freezing in the cold temperatures from getting wet. Saturday wasn't much colder then freezing here, and it was just driven a few hours before so I'm not sure of that.

Anyone ever have this happen to them or know whats wrong?

 

[BobWiersema]

So its another month and another problem with my SOHC v6 Explorer. The last few days I have had an "off and on" probloem which involves my Explorer leaving me stranded. It seems at night that when I go to start it up, I turn the key and I get nothing. The dash lights come on, the guages move and go to their normal spots, but the truck won't crank over. Theres no "click" like what you get when the battery is low (which it does not seem to be) and no noise from the starter. It does nothing but light up like its trying to start, but won't crank the motor. I was stranded wednesday night and had to leave it out of town in a parking lot over night, then when I came back Thursday afternoon to get it and take a look, it started immediatly. I drove it the next day no problem until after work I went out with some of the guys after our Friday night hockey game and again, same problem, turn the key and nothing but lights. So I left it there overnight, went back Saturday afternoon to get it and it started up just fine. No Saturday night I went to leave the house and it again wouldn't start. I tried it later in the evening and it still wouldn't start.

I was thinking that it possibly, but not likely, could be the battery, but most likely a starter issue. I had a similar problem with a Jeep years ago and a mechanic told me it was the starter freezing in the cold temperatures from getting wet. Saturday wasn't much colder then freezing here, and it was just driven a few hours before so I'm not sure of that.

Anyone ever have this happen to them or know whats wrong?

I hate to give you a short answer but you most likely have bad battery cables. I have had this before.

Replace them, its chap.
I need to run to the job, Im late. Ill check back later.

Bob

 

[jremington59]

If you try it one day and it won't start, and then the next starts right up it isn't the battery.

As was said above, you have bad connections or rot somewhere in your connections with the cables.

 

[apuszczalowski]

I'm thinking its the cable from the starter to the starter switch. Since I get lights and the guages come on I don't think its the cables going to the battery directly.

Anyone know what size length and guage I should be buying to replace it?

 

[jremington59]

The first thing you should do before changing anything is to clean your battery terminals and check the connections at the starter for corrosion.

 

[mritz]

Just went through this with my 96 V8 turned out to be the solenoid on the drivers fender
turn the key on lights and guages come on but that was it,try it another time and started just fine,replaced the solenoide and its been fine

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

Just my .02 worth...When you have the no start condition, crank the key over like you are trying to start it, and then determine if you have positive 12v going over to the starter solonoid on the firewall. You do this by pull the smaller red wire (single 90 degree connector) and putting either a test light or multimeter on it. If you show 12 volt to that when the key is in the start position, you can narrow your problem to either solonoid, cable, or starter. The other old school trick is to 'jump' the two big contacts on the solonoid with a screwdriver (make sure the handle is insulated) when the key is in run position momentarily to see if the starter engages. If it does, bad solonoid. If it doesnt, and you have 12 v coming to the single wire, then cable or starter. I ran into this with a 97 EB once, but it turned out to be a loose connection on the digital transmission range sensor not allowing the 12v to get to the solonoid.

(Warning, try at your own risk the solonoid jumping trick)

 

[rhyno]

I had the exact thing happen to me a few times this winter. Mine only happened when it was cold, like around 20 degrees. As the day warmed up and the temp went up by about 5 degrees, it started right up. Never happened when it wasnt 20 or below.

 

[firepop5]

Bad cables or solenoid can be the problem. A bad neutral safety switch will also prevent the car from starting.

 

[apuszczalowski]

I'm thinking of starting with the starter switch (where the wire from the battery connect to then go to the starter attached to the power control box under the hood), I'm guessing this is a dealer or Wrecker part? Not something stocked at a typical auto parts store?

Next (if it doesn't work) I'm going to replace the cable to the starter, I just have to remove the cable first or find the proper length and guage for it. I have been having trouble trying to get an idea how the cables run without jacking up and sliding under the truck to try and find the starter. This makes me miss driving a Jeep, the inline 6 had so much room in the engine bay everything was accessible and you could almost climb in it to work on it!

 

[apuszczalowski]

Couple more questions

So I was looking at the Haynes manual I have for the truck, and it shows the starter swith located on the fender between the battery and the power box (where all the underhood fuses and relays are located. My truck doesn't have this, the wires go to something attached to the power box, and theres a starter relay inside (checked that by swapping a known working relay and still nothing).

Also, how hard is it to change the starter on a 1999 SOHC w/ 4wd? Is it easy to access from underneath? Is it something easy enough to be done in a parking lot or will I need to jack it up and remove stuff to get access to it?

The truck wouldn't start last night and left me stranded at work, now it won't start at all for me so I'm wondering if I fix it in the lot tomorrow or just get it towed to a shop to have them do it.