Hey all,

The wife just bought a new to her 04' Navigator. It's been all fine and good for two weeks, but yesterday it started having problems.

First, the wife calls me at work and says it won't start. She tells me she only hears a click when she turns the key. She was late for work, so she caught a ride with a friend.

Later in the day, she calls me again and I tell her to shift through the gears and try starting in park and neutral (I was thinking natural safety switch not engaged). The truck started right up. She went and ran a few errands, came home and tried to leave again a few hours later to pick up the kids. Again, the truck won't start.

I get home from work, grab mt Fluke and get to testing. I've got 12.4V at the battery. I've got 12.4v at the starter. When I test at the ignition post on the strter solenoid, I only get 4V.

I check the schematic in the Haynes manual, and start looking for the starter relay.... The book says ints on the passenger side firewall.... I don't see it. I trace the cable from the battery to the starter.. Still no relay, just the solenoid on the starter... Am I to assume that some motors (this is a 5.4L DOHC) don't have a relay, just the solenoid?

I also pulled the starter and took it to Autozone for grins and giggles.... It tested out fine.

Now I'm back to thinking it's the neutral safety switch. The thing is, I cant find it in the Haynes manual..... Where is this thing located?

Thanks guys,

Billy

 

Also, the manual says there is a Power Distribution box under the hood, and a second fuse panel under the hood, where the starter relay might be located.... Thing is, I can't find those either......

I haven't been a wrench in a couple of years, but I'm not that out of practice!!!



TIA

 

If she gets a click, the neutral safety switch (now know as a DTRS, or Digital Transmission Range Sensor) is okay.

 

I believe the '04 has a CJB (Thats a Central Jucntion Block) over behind the passenger kick panel. I'm not familiar with the '04, but I think the starter relay is in there. That's prolly what the wife heard clicking.

I suspect that you are having an issue with one of the starter cables. Pull both cables and shine up the connections and carefully inspect the ends to be sure they are in good shape and are attached to the cables with no green crud showing.

 

The cables appeared to be in good shape. I will resistance check them when I get home.

The fuse panel is behind that kick panel. I'm guessing you're right about that being the location of the relay. I'll check those also when I get home.

Thanks guys

 

Well,

I went back through EVERYTHING.... Power to the starter, power to the solenoid when the key is turned, and a good ground.

I pulled the starter again and bench tested it myself... No joy with the solenoid! I took it back to AZ and they retested it and the solenoid failed. A new reman starter, and Betty lives!