hey everybody, I'm asking this for my son...he has an edge 4x4, 3.0, manual trans...he was having trouble with his battery draining, but on recharge it fired right up, now he has nothing when he turns the key, battery is up, changed ignition switch, and has been trying to get it for a week now...anyone have any ideas?...or experienced the same problem?....any help would be appreciated, he really can't afford to take it to a shop, but he is stumped, and it is his only source of transportation...thanks

 

If the battery is properly recharged & the starter motor won't crank the engine, try shifting to "N" & leave the clutch pedal out & try cranking the engine.

If it'll crank in "N", then look to the clutch pedal interlock switch, or it's wiring, as this is a safety feature to prevent the engine from being started with it in gear & the clutch out, so if the clutch safety switch or wiring is faulty, a no crank condition can result!!!!

If that checks out ok, can you hear the under hood starter relay click???? If not, check it & it's wiring out. If thats ok, then check the wiring from the relay to the starter motor solenoid, or the starter motor itself.

If the starter relay is sending power to the starter solenoid, but the starter motor isn't trying to crank the engine, try thumping the starter with a wooden block, or hammer handle, just don't get crazy & break something.

If it'll suddenly wake up & crank the engine, suspect a loose connection, or an internal problem with the starter motors brushes, comutator, or it's windings.

Most autoparts stores can & will do a no cost starter motor bench test, before you buy a new one.

If you have to replace the starter, also have them bench test the new one, before you leave the store with it!!!!

A bunch of thoughts for pondering, let us know how it goes.

EDIT: On the battery draining down, after he gets the no start problem resolved, have him run this puppy by his favorite auto parts store, for a no cost in vehicle, electrical system check up, via their portable electrical system tester.

Ask for the parts store testing guru, as properly used, t tester will likely be able to run down & locate his parasitic drain problem, thats discharging the battery.

 

First I want to apologize for taking so long to provide an update...next thank you for the info, I called my son the next day to tell him I would come down to use your suggestions to troubleshoot, but he had already decided to take it to a dealer, I'm not sure how they managed it, but at some point he and his friends had pulled a fuse while troubleshooting, and they didn't put it back, that's all that was wrong, a new fuse, and it fired right up, hopefully he has learned from it, and will pay more attention next time, he lives about 40 miles from me, so I couldn't go there right away, because of my work schedule, and I never would have dreamed that was it, he should have known better..lol....thanks again, Darrell

 

OK good feedback & to hear the no start was something simple.

Doesn't answer the question why the battery was discharging, so maybe suggest he run this puppy by his favorite autoparts store for a no cost, in vehicle electrical system check up, via their portable electrical system tester.

It can spot things like weak, leaky or shorted alternator diodes, or battery cells & can also check for excessive parasitic electrical drain, from things like lights that aren't tuning off, or aftermarket equiptment thats not turning off, or has a problem, or the GEM module, or battery saver not timing things out.

If the battery drains again, he'll know he likely has such a problem.