Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Car doesn't start

When ever my car dies for some reason whether it be I left a door open or the lights on or if I disconnect the battery I can't just jump it and have it start.

I have an exhaust leak so I disconnected the (-) so the CEL would go off. I did this a few times and everything was good. But recently whenever the car dies I can't just jump it and have it start up again. So then I thought it was a clutch safety switch. Two times I have just wiggled it around and the car worked after I jumped it. But now it is still not starting.

I have full electricity but the car just doesn't start. There is no clicking (like a dead battery)

Now Im thinking it might have something to do with a security/anti-theft thing. Because the light on my center console is blinking. If anyone has any idea of what is wrong or needs some more info please tell me.

The car is a 99 cougar. And the battery in it is about 2 weeks old.

the PATS (Passive Anti Theft System) light will blink steadily about once a second or so, when the key is out of the ignition, indicating a properly working system.

wheny ou turn the key to the ON position, it should illuminate and remain for about 3 seconds, or so. Once started, it would go out completely while running. Explain the differences of yours from that, minus the starting part obviously. lol.

I would look in to corroded/cracked/splitting wires going to the starter, starter relay, or the ground from either.

Ok, I just disconnected the (-) again to see what happens. Right away it sounded like a fuel pump was priming up or something. Im pretty sure thats what it was. But I went inside and looked at the anti theft light. It was blinking very fast for a while and then it stopped and started doing one blink, a pause and then 3 more fast blinks. And then it just stops after a few minutes, instead of doing the blink every 2 seconds like it is supposed to do.

And the thing with the wires/ground is that I can't see any wires at all. And I can barely see the alternator. And I can't even see the starter. Ill go check and see if I can see any lose wires. Thanks.

bump, I need to fix this very soon.

night time bump

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