'92 Explorer 4.0 won't start
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 47
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From: The Poconos of PA
'92 Explorer 4.0 won't start
Hi all,
Nothing seemed wrong until one day after shopping, it wouldn't start. Al I get is a click from the starter relay on the fender, and a click from the solenoid on the starter when I turn the key.I tried jumping the car with another car, charging the battery, then I tried the battery from my Ranger. Then I tried jumping the starter relay, still no good. So I went and bought a starter, still no change. I cleaned all the terminals on the battery and starter relay. I tested voltage at the starter (big terminal) and got 12.35 volts.
What do you guys think? Maybe the wire from the battery to the starter is shot? Is there a way of checking resistance of this wire?
Thanks,
Joe
Nothing seemed wrong until one day after shopping, it wouldn't start. Al I get is a click from the starter relay on the fender, and a click from the solenoid on the starter when I turn the key.I tried jumping the car with another car, charging the battery, then I tried the battery from my Ranger. Then I tried jumping the starter relay, still no good. So I went and bought a starter, still no change. I cleaned all the terminals on the battery and starter relay. I tested voltage at the starter (big terminal) and got 12.35 volts.
What do you guys think? Maybe the wire from the battery to the starter is shot? Is there a way of checking resistance of this wire?
Thanks,
Joe
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 392
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From: Las Vegas, NV
This may be a bit extreme, but make sure your motor will actually turn.
Also, a friend of mine once installed 3 starters before he got one that actually worked from the auto parts store. Take the starter out and test it to make sure it works.
You can have everything hooked up but leave the starter out so it doesn't engage and see if it will spin when turning the ignition switch. You will hear wind up if it does run. This will tell you if everything is hooked up right, but won't tell you if there is proper juice to the starter.
If the engine does in fact turn, and the starter is working, then you know there are elecrical issues.
Also, a friend of mine once installed 3 starters before he got one that actually worked from the auto parts store. Take the starter out and test it to make sure it works.
You can have everything hooked up but leave the starter out so it doesn't engage and see if it will spin when turning the ignition switch. You will hear wind up if it does run. This will tell you if everything is hooked up right, but won't tell you if there is proper juice to the starter.
If the engine does in fact turn, and the starter is working, then you know there are elecrical issues.
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 47
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From: The Poconos of PA
Thanks LV Dan,
I don't think the engine is seized, because all I hear from the starter when the key is turned is the solenoid activating. It doesn't sound like the starter is actuating. And yes, a good idea on your part, I also thought that maybe that "new" starter was defective. I'm going to do what you suggested, take out that "new" starter and try it out of the truck. I guess I'll have to ground it's shell somehow for it to work. If that doesn't work, then I'll get a new (big) wire for the starter. Sometimes a wire can look good, but be corroded inside the insulation and create too much resistance.
I'll post the results.
Thanks again,
Joe
I don't think the engine is seized, because all I hear from the starter when the key is turned is the solenoid activating. It doesn't sound like the starter is actuating. And yes, a good idea on your part, I also thought that maybe that "new" starter was defective. I'm going to do what you suggested, take out that "new" starter and try it out of the truck. I guess I'll have to ground it's shell somehow for it to work. If that doesn't work, then I'll get a new (big) wire for the starter. Sometimes a wire can look good, but be corroded inside the insulation and create too much resistance.
I'll post the results.
Thanks again,
Joe
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,516
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
TO see if it is a bad cable you might want to try adding a jumper cable. If you add the jumper between battery & starter relay & it cranks replace that cable. Still nothing, try between starter relay & starter, etc..
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 47
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From: The Poconos of PA
OK, I took the starter out and tested it with jumper cables. It worked fine. I chopped the wires off of the positive battery clamp. It was the original one with the molded on wires. when I stripped the insulation back, the wires looked a little corroded. I cleaned them and used a new cheapo battery clamp and the truck started!
Everything seems OK now, but it does crank a little slow. I think I should get two new (better quality) battery clamps. Or the proper molded ones maybe?
Let this be a lesson for all of us!
A lousy battery clamp cost me a $45 tow, $86 starter, and a lot of frustration!
Later...
Joe
Everything seems OK now, but it does crank a little slow. I think I should get two new (better quality) battery clamps. Or the proper molded ones maybe?
Let this be a lesson for all of us!
A lousy battery clamp cost me a $45 tow, $86 starter, and a lot of frustration!
Later...
Joe
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