Crown Vic Won't Start, Electrical
police interceptor
05-25-2004, 06:58 AM
This is an intermittant problem, getting worse. WHen you turn the ignitioin switch, nothing happens, it is like the neutral/clutch safety switch is engaged.
When you check voltages at the starter, the little wire, the one that engages tells the solenoid to activate, sometimes has electricity,and sometimes doesn't. When it does, the car starts, when it doesn't the car doesn't. I've replaced the starter, the key switch and the the starter switch that sits next to the key switch on the steering column.
It keeps doing it. Is there some sort of starter relay, that is keeping voltage fro the small wire going to the starter. Could this relay be bad, and if it is a relay, where is it?, and, could something esle (a sensor) somewhere else be telling the relay to not send electricity, so the realay IS working, it is doing what it is told.
About one out of every 300 taps to the ingnition switch will start the car
When you check voltages at the starter, the little wire, the one that engages tells the solenoid to activate, sometimes has electricity,and sometimes doesn't. When it does, the car starts, when it doesn't the car doesn't. I've replaced the starter, the key switch and the the starter switch that sits next to the key switch on the steering column.
It keeps doing it. Is there some sort of starter relay, that is keeping voltage fro the small wire going to the starter. Could this relay be bad, and if it is a relay, where is it?, and, could something esle (a sensor) somewhere else be telling the relay to not send electricity, so the realay IS working, it is doing what it is told.
About one out of every 300 taps to the ingnition switch will start the car
ModMech
05-25-2004, 08:32 AM
It sounds like the neutral safety switch is bad.
gurinski
10-10-2005, 10:37 PM
This is an intermittant problem, getting worse. WHen you turn the ignitioin switch, nothing happens, it is like the neutral/clutch safety switch is engaged.
When you check voltages at the starter, the little wire, the one that engages tells the solenoid to activate, sometimes has electricity,and sometimes doesn't. When it does, the car starts, when it doesn't the car doesn't. I've replaced the starter, the key switch and the the starter switch that sits next to the key switch on the steering column.
It keeps doing it. Is there some sort of starter relay, that is keeping voltage fro the small wire going to the starter. Could this relay be bad, and if it is a relay, where is it?, and, could something esle (a sensor) somewhere else be telling the relay to not send electricity, so the realay IS working, it is doing what it is told.
About one out of every 300 taps to the ingnition switch will start the car
Sounds like the starter relay its a 20$ part
When you check voltages at the starter, the little wire, the one that engages tells the solenoid to activate, sometimes has electricity,and sometimes doesn't. When it does, the car starts, when it doesn't the car doesn't. I've replaced the starter, the key switch and the the starter switch that sits next to the key switch on the steering column.
It keeps doing it. Is there some sort of starter relay, that is keeping voltage fro the small wire going to the starter. Could this relay be bad, and if it is a relay, where is it?, and, could something esle (a sensor) somewhere else be telling the relay to not send electricity, so the realay IS working, it is doing what it is told.
About one out of every 300 taps to the ingnition switch will start the car
Sounds like the starter relay its a 20$ part
gurinski
10-10-2005, 10:38 PM
go to advanced auto parts.com
way2old
10-11-2005, 12:57 PM
If all else fails, look under the front bumper on passenger side at the wiring harness that loops up under the battery. These harnesses were bad about corroding wires in that area.
sgtLurk
10-06-2007, 10:46 PM
:popcorn:I have an 89 crown vic that had a similar problem. At first, it would shut down sporatically, but it wasn't a big problem and rarely shut down while driving. Then it got worse and would not start even after having the starter engaged for a long time. If I positioned the key a certain way it would start. Next it got even worse, I had to hold the key near the position where the starter motor is engaged. In other words, I had to hold the key slightly past the point where the springiness of the switch pushes the key back to the running position. At this point I knew there was something wrong with the ignition switch.
sgtLurk
10-06-2007, 10:54 PM
If I sat in the drivers seat with the driver's door open and turned the ignition switch I could hear the fuel pump start once the key was turned to a certain point then as I turned farther it would shut off. The fuel pump only stays on for a couple of seconds anyway, but it was definitely being cutoff by the key position and it shouldn't have been. Then I could turn the key more and it would re-engage the fuel pump after the springiness.
The first thing I tried was replacing the lock cylinder, I went to advance auto and they gave me the cylinder for something like $11 but they didn't give me any keys with it so it was useless and they wouldn't take it back! Anyway, while I had the steering column covers off I noticed the ignition switch (rectangular plastic connector, closer to dash than cylinder, with about a dozen wires connected) was loose. I simply pushed up on the switch to secure connections and it worked every time. I never bought a new switch, I just left the bottom cover off and every time it doesn't start I push on it.
I guess your problem with the starter could mean a different set of contacts is not touching because of the same loose switch.
The first thing I tried was replacing the lock cylinder, I went to advance auto and they gave me the cylinder for something like $11 but they didn't give me any keys with it so it was useless and they wouldn't take it back! Anyway, while I had the steering column covers off I noticed the ignition switch (rectangular plastic connector, closer to dash than cylinder, with about a dozen wires connected) was loose. I simply pushed up on the switch to secure connections and it worked every time. I never bought a new switch, I just left the bottom cover off and every time it doesn't start I push on it.
I guess your problem with the starter could mean a different set of contacts is not touching because of the same loose switch.
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