Will not start

[J. Anthony]

I have been driving my Explorer everyday until about 8 months ago. Now when I go out to start it, it just gives me one click and then nothing. It won't start. About two months ago I had taken it into the shop to get some work done. It ran fine after that but sometimes I had trouble starting. The mechanic had made mention that the alarm system may be causing the problem. Does anyone know anything that I can try to trouble shoot the problem?

 

[TedJ]

If it's been sitting for 8 months the battery is probably dead. Do the lights dim when you try to start it? Try jumping it or charging the battery.

 

[J. Anthony]

Good battery...

I was really hoping that would be the problem. Put two new batt's in it and then checked them on the Jeep. Good voltage and current. Lights are good as well as all other electronics. Do you know anywhere I can get some schematics?

 

[TedJ]

Check the cables and solenoid, if its been sitting for that long starter could be stuck too, give the starter a few whacks with a rubber mallet. It was working when you parked it right?

 

[beetlebz]

does it crank, but not start, or not crank at all?

 

[J. Anthony]

It just clicks

The starter was the next place I was going to try.

 

[JDraper]

I'd bet on the cables if the battery is good and the solenoid is just clicking. This is a common problem in the Gen 1 Explorers. They are known for an internal corrosion problem in the positive cable. Cable will look fine from the outside, but it can be severely corroded on the inside. Check the cable for it's resistance. If it's above a couple of ohms, it's bad.