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

 

Might be a bad starter relay. The next time it wont crank try jumping the relay. If it cranks replace the relay.

 

Where's the starter relay located? Power Distribution Box in engine compartment?

 

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.

 

My Explorer does that when it just doesn't have enough juice to turn over the engine. COuld be a bad battery, or faulty alternator. How old is your battery? What lifetime did you buy?

 

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.

 

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.

 

So the positive battery cable connects to one side of the starter relay...where does the negative battery cable connect to?

 

It goes to the engine block, passenger side. The starter is connected to the block so you don't need a neg cable connected to the starter.