Need help: two Fords, both with same problem?

titansrunfarm · #1 02/18/07, 07:48 AM

I have a 1995 Ford Contour and a 1990 Ford Bronco both will not start, when I turn the key some of the lights come on and at times the engines try to turn over but don't, sometimes I just get a clicking sound. It is not the battery I think as they can't be jumped off my F250. I'm thinking starters/solenoids? Just wanted an opinion before I go out and buy new starters for them.

Beeman · #2 02/18/07, 07:54 AM

Sounds more like battery to me. How old are the batteries? Do they have removeable caps to check the electrolyte level? If they do are they full? Mant times a bad battery will not let you boost the vehicle with booster cables, sometimes you just have to let the car with the good battery run while connected to the bad vehicle for a while to get the bad battery to charge a little, if it has water. If the batteries need water use distilled water to top them off.
Now all of this assumes you have a very high quality set of booster cables. I can't tell you how many vehicles couldn't be boosted off but when I used my set of cables they started right up.

deaconjim · #3 02/18/07, 07:55 AM

Check the battery cables. Corrosion in the connectors, at the connector clamps (if they're not molded connections) or in the braid can cause that problem. Also check the connection at the starter solenoid and where the negative cable connects to ground (on the frame).

It definitely sounds like low voltage to the solenoid and starter, which is almost certainly going to be either the battery or the cables.

titansrunfarm · #4 02/18/07, 08:02 AM

We've replaced both batteries and cables in both vehicles.

I will go and try hooking up the jumper cables and letting it run for a while and see then. I also have the most heavy duty jumper cables Autozone had to offer.

FreightTrain · #5 02/18/07, 08:29 AM

clean the terminals on the relay too... usually found mounted over a wheelwell

tinknal · #6 02/18/07, 01:17 PM

Do either of these rigs have a sidewall mounted solinoid? If so you can turn the Key on (make sure in park or neutral, as you will overide the kill switch), connect the neutral jumper cable to the frame and touch the hot cable to the side of the solinoid that goes to the starter. This is probably not recomended but I've done it many times. If the starter turns now you know it is either a battery or solinoid problem.

**Cabin Fever** · #7 02/18/07, 04:46 PM

Since the batteries and cables are new, here's my advice: Clean the battery terminals and make sure the cables are clamped down TIGHT.

If you do decide to swap out the starters, test the removed starter using your jumper cables first.

Countrybumpkin · #8 02/18/07, 04:54 PM

Our '94 Taurus wouldn't start...tried to jump it-nothing. Took the starter off, took it into town to have it checked-it checked out fine! Told me it was the battery-told them it wasn't that old. Bought one anyway-to try it, and started right up, and still running! Must be a Ford thing...

**Cabin Fever** · #9 02/18/07, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Countrybumpkin

Our '94 Taurus wouldn't start...tried to jump it-nothing. Took the starter off, took it into town to have it checked-it checked out fine! Told me it was the battery-told them it wasn't that old. Bought one anyway-to try it, and started right up, and still running! Must be a Ford thing...

Or maybe you didn't have a good solid electrical connection due to corrosion or loose connectors. After you swapped out the new battery, the connection was better and things worked fine.

#10 02/18/07, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Countrybumpkin

Our '94 Taurus wouldn't start...tried to jump it-nothing. Took the starter off, took it into town to have it checked-it checked out fine! Told me it was the battery-told them it wasn't that old. Bought one anyway-to try it, and started right up, and still running! Must be a Ford thing...

Its a battery thing not a Ford thing. Ford does not make batteries. My buddy had the same problem with his Chevy truck. The battery will not allow a jump start. It usually has an internal short (usually caused by purchasing a cheap battery as they may not be soldered as well as a decent one).

agmantoo · #11 02/18/07, 05:25 PM

The ground connection from the battery to the vehicle block/frame needs to be very clean. New batteries, new cables, solenoid clicking indicates to me that there is a bad connection (high electrical resistance). The clicking of the solenoid indicates voltage is being applied but not sufficiently to hold the relay in position to apply the voltage/current to the starter.

tinknal · #12 02/19/07, 10:14 AM

I know this is a terrible waste, but freshly opened beer does an excellent job of cleaning coroded electrical parts.

Blu3duk · #13 02/19/07, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinknal

I know this is a terrible waste, but freshly opened beer does an excellent job of cleaning coroded electrical parts.

Lets not be abusing alcohol here!!!!!

A better idea is get a cup of coffee and pour over the battery terminals to cleanse them off..... yep the acids in the coffee actually work better than baking soda as it works with everything still in place, however i agree with CF in that you need clean the terminals with a wire brush or terminal cleaner and the cable ends as well. Then too even the connections where the cables were replaced may have just enough corrosion left on them that it is not letting the juice through.

And i will be by for the beer later!

William

titansrunfarm · #14 02/23/07, 08:20 PM

Hi guys! Thanks for the tips, the Bronco is up and running after we replaced the battery and got a tongue lashing from the auto parts store guy for buying a cheapo battery. Contour is still DOA, working on that...

**Cabin Fever** · #15 02/24/07, 12:01 PM

Swap that new Bronoco battery over to the Contour, clean and tighten the terminals real good and see if it will start.

Beeman · #16 02/24/07, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by titansrunfarm

Hi guys! Thanks for the tips, the Bronco is up and running after we replaced the battery and got a tongue lashing from the auto parts store guy for buying a cheapo battery. Contour is still DOA, working on that...

I don't know what kind of battery you had but most batteries today cheapo or not are pretty comparable. What brand of not cheapo battery did he sell you?
As CF said swap batteries even if temporarily and see what happens.

Fords have a common problem that can cause a good battery to quickly go dead. Many times a Ford alternator will go bad, it will still charge just fine and won't make noise but it will drain the battery when the vehicle is parked. you can charge or replace the battery and everything will appear fine until you leave it parked for a while and then the battery will be dead again.