I have a 2000 Explorer that is having starting issues. The battery is fine, when you turn the key all you get is a single click. The lights wipers all work. Sometimes it will start sometimes it won't. I have a Haynes manual that I have been trying to use to help troubleshoot but there seems to be a discrepancy between what the book and my vehicle.

I suspected the starter relay, which is supposed to be mounted on the fender next to the battery. The positive battery cable goes only to what looks like a 175 amp wafer fuse mounted on the side of the power distribution box and of course down to the starter. Connections are all tight. Also I have tapped on the starter and it will occasionaly start after doing this.

So two questions, does the 2000 model have a starter relay? and if so where is it? Should I just replace the starter and hope that's it.

My wife is driving my 01 F250 around since the explorer is dead or unreliable and I need to get this thing solved. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

I recently had a similar problem with my '96 Explorer. After talking to a mechanic friend of mine he suggested the following:

(I'm assuming you have already cleaned the battery terminals, cables and starter relay connections next to the battery.)

1.) Disconnect and check the NEG cable from battery side to the engine block side with an ohm meter and make sure there is no resistance (0-ohms). This will rule out a bad or failing cable.

2.) Clean up the NEG cable connector and block area with wire brush. Apply some di-electric grease or similar to prevent oxidation and reconnect.

3.) Do the same with the POS cable from the relay on the fender wall to the starter. Mine was slightly greened up with oxidation on the starter side but not too bad. Also clean the smaller cable that connects to the solenoid on the starter as well.

I pulled my starter since it was fairly easy to do and cleaned all the cable connections and such while it was off the vehicle. I made sure the starter solenoid was activating fine. I also cleaned up all the rust on any contact areas.

If you are going to remove the starter just be careful when removing the bolts as the starter is bolted into an aluminum housing (on my '96 at least). You don't want to break a bolt or strip the threads in the aluminum housing.

So far I haven't had any problems in the past month or so, knock on wood. I think my problem was a bad or weak ground connection. I noticed my hood light was brighter after reconnecting the battery.

Hope this helps...

bill-jr

 

Do you have the key with the chip in it? If you look on the black plastic part where you try and thread a ring onto it.. (you know the ones where you have to use a prybar and a wedge to fit the key onto.. but i digress..) you will see a little square plastic insert. There is a chip in there and it tells the truck its ok to start. If the chip has failed, then you will get those symptoms. I have heard of this happening but have yet to have it happen to me. (Picking up a 2000 EB explorer with 123kilometers next week....)

 

PATS key won't stop it from turning over, just won't let it fire up. All of Bill-Jr's suggestions are excellent, as these symptoms could very well be a bad connection. It could also turn out to be a bad cable or bad starter. As to the relay, I don't know if the 2000 has a fender mounted solenoid or not.