Hey guys,

My brother is visiting from college and is having some problems with his van. It's a '95. The engine turns over slow, like it has a dead battery, but the battery is new. The old battery was in good shape also and starts my 351M in my '79 with no problems. The alternator works good also and charges fine. Is there any common problems with this? What should I check?

Thanks, I don't know much about these.

 

If the battery and alternator are good, then he could have a corroded battery cable, a poor ground or most likely, worn out starter brushes. Most of the chain auto parts stores offer a free curbside meter diagnosis of these problems.

 

I am thinking starter issue.

Try cranking it a couple times and crawl under and CAREFULLY feel the starter, if it is burning hot, it is worn out and no matter how much power you put to it, it is done.

 

I agree, I have put 3 starters in our 95 3.0. While your at it, check the grounds and battery cables too.

Aaron

 

Just a quick note on starters...my mechanic told me not to hit the Aero*'s starter with a hammer or such because apparently ( from what the man who says he knows) said Ford permanently attached the magnets inside and hitting them as I have always been wont to do can cause them to detach and cause innumerable other nasty problems...just one for the new guys and under-informed..thanks

 

Thanks everyone for the info. I will check the cables and starter this weekend and report back with the results. The cables and starter are all factory stuff yet.

 

look for a loosened 12v cable nut on the starter or solenoid, limits current flow or a failing starter solenoid with contacts that are arc compromised.
may also be worn shaft bushing in starter causing binding or worn bendix that is binding on the shaft.

 

it could be that 1 of the 6 cells is BAD.
the battery will check out fine when you do a curbside test at Autozone.
carefully pull the caps on the top of the battery and test each and every cell with a hydometer. perhaps only 1 cell is compromised, and if so, you need a new replacement battery.

 

Hey maybe the main bearings are freezing up or one or more of the pistons are tight in the bores, if so pull the engine and dump it and get another from the wreckers yard or it might be cheeper just to change the starter motor.

 

I finally got it fixed. It was the starter that was bad, as eveyone suggested. Thanks again for the help!

While I was under there I noticed something, and maybe I just don't understand... Is it less-than-brilliant by Ford on the 3.0 motor to put the oil filter directly above the starter? The old one was covered in oil from changing the oil filter and the guy at AutoZone said they won't honor any warranty on oily starters, and that I should fix the oil leak. I tried to explain to him why it was oily, but he didn't get it.

And something else to make the day more intesting - I had to drive to my bro's school that is a bit over 130 miles away to replace the starter in the school parking lot. He took the van back to school before it was fixed due to a miscommunication. After fixing his starter I began my journey home and my alternator started squeeling and quit charging! I made it back to AutoZone as they were about to lock up and go home, but in just enough time to buy a $140 alternator. Luckily I had plenty of tools along, and after the installation of the alternator everything went fine. I'm glad to finally be home now

 

460, here's a tip for you. I agree, I always wondered why they placed the oil filter directly above the starter! Not long after purchasing my '87 Aerostar with the 3.0 V6 (I am the second owner, the Aerostar had 17,000 miles on it, engine and undercarriage still looked new) I put a heat shield om my starter, and insulated the cable leads that attach to the starter. When changing oil, cover the starter with plastic, I usually stick some absorbant paper towels in that area, where the oil drains. I can spin the oil filter off quickly, with very little oil drippage. Make sure you have a good grip on the filter, so it does not slip out of your fingers. With the heat shield, it protects the starter from any oil, + the plastic and paper towel absorb any residue. I am particular about keeping the starter out of oil, and yes, the starter is still the original Motorcraft part, now at 140,000 miles. With triple digit heat in the summer here, at times, I feel insulating these parts from unecessary heat, is very beneficial. I've never had any starting problems with my Aerostar, under high heat soak conditions. For example, after a long freeway run, 105 degrees outside, AC on, turning the van off. Then restarting it 5-10 minutes later, it turns over and starts immediately. I also replaced the ground cable, from a 4 guage wire, to a 1 guage cable, with a piggy-back body ground wire. ED (whose "old" Aerostar has bright and clear headlights, all clearence lights, and bright digital dash lights, @ night).

 

engine oil in the starter burns on the communtator and brushes, gums them up...softens the communtator insulator...it falls apart...softens the rotor current conductor wiring insulation...rotor swells and comes apart...
my 4L, the best starting vehicle I've ever had in my life...Ford knows how to build great starting FI engines

 

Hey ED I hope you have not put a jinks on your van now by saying it always starts, I was telling mates at work one day how reliable my van was and guess what, come to start it that evening to go home AND no go it would not start and yes after, new battery, starter solenoid and no end of tinkering I finally replaced the starter, not had any trouble since touch wood. I have never come across a starter that sometimes works and sometimes does not, on every other car I have had they just quite and thats it.

 

mine quit on me on a trip to maryland from houston. first gas stop, acted like the battery was low; cranking slow. next stop cranked fine, no trouble at all. second gas stop, "what's this?", slow crank then nothing. try jumping to no avail. crawl under to tap the end cap( a no-no, I know, but what other choice did I have?) finally I remove the starter (luckily I had the tools with me) and it's shot. wait 2 1/2 hours til the nearest auto parts opens, get a lift from a really nice samaritan (son of the clerk at the gas station) problem solved. strange way for a starter to die, a first for me.