I have a 91 Aerostar. Lately, when it is cold in the morning (19F), I will turn the key. All the panel lights come on and I appear to have full power. I will turn the ignition and nothing, no cranking, no attempt to crank. It's like I'm trying to start it in gear or something.
If I keep trying, eventually it cranks, with full force. After it warms up, I don't have any trouble starting it throughout the day, until the next morning, when I go through the same procedure.
Any help would be appreciated.
Tom

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 29-Dec-00 AT 10:15 PM (EST)[/font][p]From your symptoms, I'd first check that the battery cable connections at the battery posts and at the starter solenoid, and starter and chassis ground are all clean and making good contact. Often it is a bad connection and this will cure this problem. If not, then next it could be any one of a number of things wearing out including the starter's brushes/commutator, the ignition switch on the steering column, the neutral safety switch for the transmission, all of which must be considered.
It really sounds like a bad connection on one of the cables or wires. A 50/50 mixture of baking soda and tap water can be used to clean the battery posts and cable connections of any corrosion after the cables have been removed. Brighten the mating surfaces with sand paper or wire brushes, (I use a battery post cleaning brush, cheap at the parts store.) and apply a thin coat of grease or Vaseline after reattaching the cables. Make sure the cables ends are in good condition and that the cable wires going into the clamp ends are making good contact. If not replace the cable.
If you've never worked on car batteries before, please allow someone who has show you what to do since it can be very dangerous if you don't do things correctly and create a spark or short out the connections.
Hope you find the problem. Good luck.
-Mark


>I have a 91 Aerostar. Lately,
>when it is cold in
>the morning (19F), I will
>turn the key. All the
>panel lights come on and
>I appear to have full
>power. I will turn the
>ignition and nothing, no cranking,
>no attempt to crank. It's
>like I'm trying to start
>it in gear or something.
>
>If I keep trying, eventually it
>cranks, with full force. After
>it warms up, I don't
>have any trouble starting it
>throughout the day, until the
>next morning, when I go
>through the same procedure.
>Any help would be appreciated.
>Tom

 

Well when you turn the key do you hear the solinoid click? If not it may be a dirty connection there. If It does click then the problem more then likely will be the starter. Either the brushes or a short to the outer body(a common problem, especially in my jeep) So good luck. Usually you can take your starter off and get it bench tested for free.
Sean