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oh my god.

S

shadow boxer

Be Gentle I'm New Here
Joined
May 22, 2005
Messages
4
So I registered at this forum once long ago, all excited about making mods to my 99 Mystique and whatnot. That was....5 years ago? All the money I've wanted to spend on mods, I've spent on repairs. So anyway, I really need your help you guys. Between lost wages trying to keep this car on the road and repair bills, I'm down to my last 20 bucks.

I was traveling on the freeway, and I hit a small pothole. The car died. I mean, died while driving it. I managed to make it over to the shoulder. I had it towed to a local shop, was told it had something to do with the alarm. It was fixed, more or less, to the tune of $400. Never specified what was wrong with it. 3 weeks later, same thing happened to the car. The shop told me it was cost $400 to fix it AGAIN (wtf? it was never fixed...)

Here's what I know:

-Everything eletrical in the car works. Lights, CD player, everything.
-The starter won't engage. It doesn't even crank.
-It was caused by a very minor impact, the second time it did this I hit a bump as well. fuel kill maybe? It has a factory alarm.
-The alarm still works, though I'm minus a passenger side window due to the location I was stranded at (Southfield & Tireman, if you know the area).
-I checked the fuses, they're not blown. I've had electrical problems with wiring behind the dashboard before that kept the alternator from charging the battery. I even replaced the dangone maxifuse.
-The coil pack is about 6 months old, but 2.5 of those months the car sat waiting for me to get the money to repair it.

Can somebody at least point me in the right direction? I went through 6 tows in less than 6 months, so my AAA is completely spent. Thank you in advance for all your help.

Yes. I've searched through 150 pages of archives over the last week with no mention of my problem.

99 Mystique Duratec ATX 145k miles
No CEL Codes Until I can get it up to autozone. I'm working on that though.
 
the last time the car cut out... did you just reset your car's computer? If that solves the issue then im guessing you have a bad ground or a short somewhere causing the electrical system to short out or the alarm to activate.
 
Alias is actually onto something. And who keeps getting soaked at the same shop? And who doesn't obtain proof of work performed and ask what was informed. You have "sucker born every minute" on your head?
 
I'd inspect the starter relay..

Can't it be swapped with the highbeam relay? I think they are identical. I'll let Tony hop on here and confirm that.. but it would be a way to isolate the problem.

then, from there.. start checking voltages at the battery, then the starter. measure at the starter with the key in the "starting" position and off.. you should see voltage at the starter.

if you don't, you know its good at the battery, and bad at the starter, so.. split the path in half and check for voltage on both sides of the starter relay, etc.

you'll find where the power cuts out.

if you DO have power at the starter, start looking at the other wire, the clutch-switch ground that enables the starter to engage as well.
 
i'll tell you this right now. dont bother testing the relay. thats not your problem. a faulty starter relay wouldnt kill the car while driving. alias is right. your problem is most likely a loose ground. hitting the pothole is what cut the power.
 
I actually had a very similar problem yesturday, just got lucky though. I go out to start the car, one click and thats it. Lights work and the battery was just replaced a few months ago. I had to go to school so I borrowed dad's car and he gave AAA a call. They came out to give it a tow to the local mechanic. They looked at it, played with a few wires and noticed some were loose. Tighten them down and the car started right up.

To summarize, check your wiring. That pothole more than like made something loose.
 
There is a fuel cutoff switch, at least there was on my SE. Down by your left foot near the door, little hole in the plastic with a red button behind it. See if that was tripped by the bump. (It is designed for major impacts like full-scale accidents, so if it was tripped, you'll have to also look into "why"!)

Not sure if that would affect the starter as well though. Thinking about it more, it's probably unlikely, but easy to inspect anyway.
 
Last edited:
Rouar said:
There is a fuel cutoff switch, at least there was on my SE. Down by your left foot near the door, little hole in the plastic with a red button behind it. See if that was tripped by the bump. (It is designed for major impacts like full-scale accidents, so if it was tripped, you'll have to also look into "why"!)

Not sure if that would affect the starter as well though. Thinking about it more, it's probably unlikely, but easy to inspect anyway.
Click to expand...


Uuuuuuu no. Inertia switch? Come on mang.
 
Could it be the PATS? If the transponder or whatever it is is on the blink or has a bad connection it could be deactivated by hitting a bump. I believe that it throws a code if its not working though right?
 
Make sure you battery terminals are clean and corrosion free also. You're basically looking for anything electrical loose under the hood. I agree that the bump could have jarred it. With the inertia switch they usually cut fuel, so your starter would still turn over just fine.
 
Thanks

Thanks

So much for your replies thus far, I'm gonna make it by Murray's in the morning to grab an EEC kit and then report my findings after work tomorrow. I'm sharing a car with my fiancee at the moment. It's adorned with girlie things.

Grrr.
 
shadow boxer said:
So much for your replies thus far, I'm gonna make it by Murray's in the morning to grab an EEC kit and then report my findings after work tomorrow. I'm sharing a car with my fiancee at the moment. It's adorned with girlie things.

Grrr.
Click to expand...


Umm why? Does it even throw codes?
 
Is the battery old? It is possible there is a problem inside the battery once you know all the wiring is in order.
 
I would have to lean to the same area here. I hvae not delt with this problem with the tour yet, but i had a 88 escort. I hit a pothole on a dirt road heard the loud bang and the car just shut off. took it to the shop and was informed of the "electronic fuel cut off switch" made for accidents and what not. Easy cheap fix. Well in reverse in a parking lot and backed over a curb (a big one) and the same thing happened. Tried to start the car and nothing. Hoped in the back, took off the panel to get to the switch, reset it with the push of a button, and it started right up.

...long story short......it didnt take a major impact to trip that Ford switch, so it may be your same problem here, and it would be a really easy fix if it is the problem. It even tells you where it is at in the drivers manual. Id try this first before taking it anywhere again......but then again im no mechanic
 
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