Starting Problem!?
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Starting Problem!?
1991 Ford Explorer 4.0L 4x4 EB
When I turned the key to start the engine today, all I heard were a couple of clicks from the engine...the accessories turned on including the a/c, but the engine would not turn over. I let it sit for a couple seconds then tried it again...this time, the accessories turned on, but no noise in the engine. Let it sit some more...Turned the key and it started up normal.
This happened once before when my brother was driving it about a week ago. It runs fine once the engine starts, but the fact that it didn't initially start worries me... I'd hate to get stuck somewhere when the vehicle won't start.
What might be the issue? Thanks
When I turned the key to start the engine today, all I heard were a couple of clicks from the engine...the accessories turned on including the a/c, but the engine would not turn over. I let it sit for a couple seconds then tried it again...this time, the accessories turned on, but no noise in the engine. Let it sit some more...Turned the key and it started up normal.
This happened once before when my brother was driving it about a week ago. It runs fine once the engine starts, but the fact that it didn't initially start worries me... I'd hate to get stuck somewhere when the vehicle won't start.
What might be the issue? Thanks
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 163
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From: Bucks County, PA
Follow the positive battery cable, it goes from the battery to one side of the starter relay and the other side of the relay goes to the starter. There are a couple of possibilities based on your description - dirty battery cables, bad battery, bad starter relay, or bad starter. I would start with removing and cleaning the battery cable first.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,450
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore
Don96 is correct. Start with the simple stuff like making sure you have good battery connections. I doubt if it's a battery or alt problem since one minute it won't start, and the next it does.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 335
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From: NJ
Sounds like the realy to me... however one other thing to check is the cable that is coming off the other side of the relay down to the starter. Mine went on my 92 a bunch of years ago... and I had no problems until it stopped working. Turns out the cable had a 300 ohm resistence when it should not have been above about 1/2 ohm. It also had a problem with the neg. terminal..... had to get it replaced due to corrosion.... and it gave the exact same problem you are describing. Check it out and let us know what you find.
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Junior User
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So the positive battery cable connects to one side of the starter relay...where does the negative battery cable connect to?
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Senior User
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From: Wisconsin
Originally Posted by swhite005
So the positive battery cable connects to one side of the starter relay...where does the negative battery cable connect to?