'91 Aerostar Won't Start
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
'91 Aerostar Won't Start
I'm getting really frustrated with this, it seems to be an ongoing problem. About 3 weeks ago, I got in and it wouldn't turn over. I replaced the starter solenoid and that seemed to fix it. This morning, I was out shopping, got in and it wouldn't turn over. You turn the key and lose all power. I wiggled the wires around and kicked it a couple times and got it started and then got it home. The next time I got in it, same thing, but nothing I did would get it to go. So I took back the solenoid and replaced it, still nothing. Battery is fine, starter is fine, so far as I can tell, all the cables are fine, nothing looks bad. Is there something I'm overlooking? When you turn the key, you either get nothing at all, all the dash lights go out and it's completely dead, or you get a bunch of clicks from all over the engine before the whole system goes dead.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 1
From: Orland USA
Cephus:
Somebody here was just going through that same clicks here a few months ago.
I could be wrong but I believe that he took loose and cleaned the two big black connectors on the firewall and that fixed it.
(I Think)
Or I would look for a bad ground.
JaY
Somebody here was just going through that same clicks here a few months ago.
I could be wrong but I believe that he took loose and cleaned the two big black connectors on the firewall and that fixed it.
(I Think)
Or I would look for a bad ground.
JaY
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 9,303
Likes: 48
From: Lyndonville, Vermont
Sounds to me like a bad connection at the battery. Check the batt terminals. Pull the cables clean and reinstall. Also battery could have an internal open. Next time it does it turn on the headlights make sure they are not on. Take a screw driver and touch the battery terminal to the battery cable to see if you are loosing connection. Kinda wedge it in there..
Cables can go bad internally also.
Dick
Cables can go bad internally also.
Dick
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
I'll go ahead and replace the cables and see if that helps. Now that I think about it, I was thinking that the positive cable felt a little "crinkly" for lack of a better word so there might be an internal short. I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope that's all it is.
New User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Mine did that a few times. It turned out to be corrosion on the battery terminals. The looked fine on the outside but had enough crud to make it stop working once in a while.
gumboot
gumboot
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Well, still no go. I replaced the cables, replaced the starter solenoid again, checked the starter, had the battery tested, everything is good. I'm thinking it's probably the ignition switch so I went to start taking the steering column apart and I can't, for the life of me, get the damn wheel off. I'm cranking so hard on the gear puller I'm afraid I'm going to twist the column off and it's just not budging. There isn't some trick to taking the wheel off on an Aerostar is there? Every other car I've pulled, it popped right off, this one just won't move at all. I've got lubricant on it right now and hopefully that will help, I don't know that this wheel has come off since the van was new.
What else can I be missing?
What else can I be missing?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 9,303
Likes: 48
From: Lyndonville, Vermont
You should try to jump the solenoid out to see if you get the starter to turn over. At least then you will have a clue as to whats going on. Take a wire and go from batt positive to the small solenoid wire that energizes it. The starter should turn. Then you will know that the wires are good for carrying high current..Take a test light and see if you get power with the key at the same terminal. Thw wheel shouldn't have to come off to get at the sw does it?
Dick
Dick
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 99f350sd
You should try to jump the solenoid out to see if you get the starter to turn over. At least then you will have a clue as to whats going on. Take a wire and go from batt positive to the small solenoid wire that energizes it. The starter should turn. Then you will know that the wires are good for carrying high current..Take a test light and see if you get power with the key at the same terminal. Thw wheel shouldn't have to come off to get at the sw does it?
On the solenoid, there are three attachments, one for the battery negative, one for the battery positive and one for a small booted wire on a small terminal, is that the one you're talking about? Just jumping from the positive to that terminal is going to get the engine turning (or started)?
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 99f350sd
Turning unless you have the key on..Then it might start...Do you have solid lites on the dash now..
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Nope, nothing turned. The second I touched the terminal with the wire, there was a loud CLICK that sounded like it came from the solenoid, then nothing. As soon as I hooked everything back up again (pulled the wire, re-attached the wire to that terminal), I had no power whatsoever, no headlights, nothing.