100,033 miles
5.0 V8 AWD
Babied its entire life

I have had my Mountaineer for two years and have put less then 2,000 miles on it; it is stored in the wintertime. I never had any problems. Early June, I had the drivers side door actuator replaced at a Lincoln-Mercury dealership, drove it home and parked it in the garage. I went to drive it this weekend and nothing. I took the battery out, tested it, charged it up, and reinstalled it (100% charged). Furthermore, I cleaned the battery terminals and connectors. Still nothing!

Everything works, interior lights, head lights, horn, alarm, locks, etc, etc, etc...

I turn the ignition key and nothing. What is wrong?

Please HELP! Thanks!

 

You may just have a battery that decided to crap out. With engine off, measure volts between the battery posts, s/b around 12 at a minimum. Buy an inexpensive test light ($5), disconnect the negative battery terminal, put the test light between the loose terminal and the battery post, everything off. If lit, something is drawing juice. You can pull a fuse at a time until the light goes out (bingo!). Also, disconnect the wire running from the positive terminal to the alternator, if it goes out, short in the alternator. Report back.

 

If the headlights are working (and don't go out when you try to start it), I don't think it will be a battery issue. It could be a bad starter solenoid. Use a test light to check to see if you are getting juice to it when turning the key. If so, try jumpering the solenoid to see if the starter kicks in. IT could also be a bad neutral safety switch.

 

There is a starter relay too, if it goes bad, the solenoid gets no power. The relay is near the battery.

 

The fuel pump runs and the starter solenoid clicks. Nonetheless, I am thinking it is the starter.

 

Are you getting power on the other side of the solenoid? If so, try tapping the starter and checking the connections at the starter.

 

It was the starter. Fixed...$$$

 

If you did the work yourself, the starter should have been about $150. That would be a rebuilt unit.