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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 28
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 28 |
V6 2.5L ATX
Hey guys, gotta a problem here. I went to start my car this morning and it wouldn't start. No click, nothing. Alarm light is very dim and also door chime is very soft. Battery drain somehow. The battery is less than 6 months old.
Fine. I go get my van and try jumping it. Let it charge and then try to start it. Click, gaugues go up and then stick. Nothing.
I go to get the van's battery and hook it up to test whether it's a bad battery. Hook it up, try to start, click, gauges go partially then stick. Nothing.
I am going to push the car around in the garage to get some better room. Put the key in, turn it, press on brake, TRY to take it out of park (automatic). Nope. Won't go anywhere. Try rocking the car, nothing. This car is not moving anywhere! I've tried leaving the battery unconnected to reset the computer but no difference. Connections on the battery look clean.
What could it be? Since the car seems like it doesn't to go out of park, could it be a FUBAR starter locking it up and shorting the electrical? I've replaced the alternator about a year ago but wouldn't think it would prevent it from starting (unless it's shorting out?) or from going out of gear.
I'm stumped now... Anyone have something similar? Could it really be the starter? The output of the charged battery when it's connected seems really weak as the chime is almost inaudible.
Sorry the for the length but had to be thorough.
TIA
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,944
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,944 |
yeah, sounds like you have a short somewhere causing a pull on the battery.
Have you done any work on the car recently? Other than an oil change. If so, go back trace everything that was done. If you didn't do the work, let us know what was done and we might be able to give you some places to look.
First of all though, I would get the battery out of the car and get it on a charger. If you don't have one, take it back to where ever you bought it and they should be able to charge it back up. Now, with a nice fresh charge in that battery, stick a meter on the battery and check the amps. Leave the meter connected and start pulling fuses, one by one. Pull a fuse, step out and look at the meter. Did the reading change? If so, you look at the items and assocated wiring that are located in that circuit.
That should help you narrow down what's going on here.
Phillip Jackson
`98 Mystique LS
262K+ and counting...
ATX rebuilt @ 151K
"This storm has broken me, my only friend!" RIP Dime
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 28
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 28 |
Thanks for the reply.
Nothing was done to the car recently. I have the battery on a charger now. Could a bad starter and/or bad alternator put a load on the battery without the car actually running?
It's really odd I can't get it out of park. It shouldn't have to do with anything electrical right? That's got me really baffled.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,408
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,408 |
There is an interlock solenoid on the shift mechanism to prevent shifter movement from park unless the brake pedal is depressed.
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" -George Santayana
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,100
Addicted CEG\'er
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Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,100 |
He said that he press the brake "on"...
unless the soleniod went out, etc, at the same time as this, as of yet, unknown problem.. that would be wierd.
Ray
'99 CSVT - Silver #222/276
In a constant state of blow-off euphoria.
Originally posted by Kremitthefrog:
I like to wear dresses and use binoculars to watch grandmas across the street.
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 28
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 28 |
OK... I think I figured out what the problem is. Hopefully I'll save somebody some frustration if they have something similar happen.
I suspected the starter was creating a load on the battery. After some work, I was able to get to the starter and remove the power terminal so essentially it was out of the loop of the positive cable. I hooked the battery back up after charging it. Now I have full power in the car for accessories, etc which I did not have before. Turning the key, press the brake, and now I can take it out of gear. So, the starter must be bad which created a load on the battery which in turn must somehow affected the shifter solenoid and/or it sensing that I am pressing the brake since there was such a power drain.
I've got all the bolts out except *ONE* on the starter. It seems like it will be very hard to get to... no room for a ratchet and socket, tried a wrench which should work but the torque needed to break the bolts is crazy. I need a longer wrench to get leverage.
Nothing is easy with electrical components on these cars... same with changing the alternator... the top bolt is so hard to get to it makes you wonder. Ford must have stock in tool companies that make socket extensions and universals.
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