1992 ford explorer wont start/battery?
nofate21
08-18-2005, 11:45 AM
my 1992 ford explorer wont start. I replaced the battery and even tried jum starting it with nothing. With fresh battery and jumpstart i get one click/turnover then nothing the car goes completely dead no lights, horn, or power locks/windows. it i let the car sit then the pwer works, but as soon as i turn the key and get that one click it goes dead again, please help
mr23mr
08-30-2005, 10:55 AM
I had this issue before, would lose lights, wait a while and they would return but still would not crank it turned out the my terminals on the cable needed to be replaced. After I replaced them, they fit very snug and truck fired right up, hopefully this helps
mizzoumark
09-01-2005, 05:40 PM
Have you used a wire brush to clean the insides of the wire terminal connectors? A lot of times corrosion will build up on the inside of the metal loop connector that slips over the terminals and you won't be getting a good connection. That sounds like your case to me. You can buy a special wire brush for cleaning the insides of the connectors as well as the outside of the battery terminals but any wire brush or steel wool should do the trick. Just make sure they're good and clean and shiny and hook up the battery again. Hopefully that will work for you.
Rainman05
12-20-2005, 03:09 AM
Have you used a wire brush to clean the insides of the wire terminal connectors? A lot of times corrosion will build up on the inside of the metal loop connector that slips over the terminals and you won't be getting a good connection. That sounds like your case to me. You can buy a special wire brush for cleaning the insides of the connectors as well as the outside of the battery terminals but any wire brush or steel wool should do the trick. Just make sure they're good and clean and shiny and hook up the battery again. Hopefully that will work for you.
I had the same problem I just replaced the positive battery cable, it's a long cable almost 6 feet long. Once I put it in my 93 explorer fired right up.
I had the same problem I just replaced the positive battery cable, it's a long cable almost 6 feet long. Once I put it in my 93 explorer fired right up.
elusive38
04-07-2007, 03:36 PM
Im having a similar problem with my 92 explorer, i just bought a new battery, but my engine still wont turnover. when i turn the key it sounds like its gonna start but nothing happens, after a few turns all i get is a cliking sound.
shorod
04-07-2007, 05:27 PM
Welcome to the forum!
Is the clicking you get after a few turns a succession of clicks, or a single click? It sounds like you may have a starter issue rather than a battery issue. What does the battery voltage measure when then engine is cranking? When you stop attempting to start the engine, does the battery voltage increase pretty rapidly to 12.5V or higher?
-Rod
Is the clicking you get after a few turns a succession of clicks, or a single click? It sounds like you may have a starter issue rather than a battery issue. What does the battery voltage measure when then engine is cranking? When you stop attempting to start the engine, does the battery voltage increase pretty rapidly to 12.5V or higher?
-Rod
elusive38
04-07-2007, 05:32 PM
its sometimes a single click and a succession of clicks, the battery voltage reads normal. how do i check the starter if it works or not?
shorod
04-07-2007, 06:04 PM
Well, one thing you can do is get down where the starter is with your multimeter and verify that you have good battery voltage to the starter while someone turns the key to start. Obviously you need to be sure you and your tools are away from any rotating parts and the vehicle is properly supported.
If the voltages to the starter are good, then you can remove the starter and take it to the local chain auto parts store to have it tested. Hopefully you'll have someone knowledgeable doing the test and they will be able to determine starter health based on current draw of the starter.
-Rod
If the voltages to the starter are good, then you can remove the starter and take it to the local chain auto parts store to have it tested. Hopefully you'll have someone knowledgeable doing the test and they will be able to determine starter health based on current draw of the starter.
-Rod
elusive38
04-07-2007, 07:45 PM
thanks man ill give it a try, i just got back from autozone and i bought a new starter seloniod just to make sure it wasnt something small and it still didnt work, but i will give it try and let u know what happends.
elusive38
04-08-2007, 07:29 PM
i put a new starter and still it wont turnover, im about to give up on this peace of shit truck, any ideas on what could be wrong?
snupytcb
04-08-2007, 07:35 PM
have you checked ALL the grounds?
shorod
04-08-2007, 10:19 PM
So has the issue changed? In post #5 you indicate that originally the engine would turn over a few times, then the clicking would start. In post #10 you mention that the engine will not turnover.
In additon to checking all the grounds as snupytcb suggested, one thing you might try is pulling all the spark plugs and checking them to see if they are wet, then try cranking the engine over with the injectors disabled (remove the fuse) as well as with the ignition disabled (also a fuse). While removing the spark plugs, inspect them for signs of raw fuel and/or coolant. If the plugs are dry and the engine cranks over, the brushes on the starter are probably short and can't handle the load placed on it by the engine compression, or the starter windings are faulty.
If the plugs are wet from fuel, you may have an ignition system that is not providing adequate spark, or the fuel injectors may be dumping too much fuel into the cylinders. This could be a faulty injector or two, faulty fuel pressure regulator, or weak coil or plug wires.
If the plugs are wet with coolant, you probably are looking at a cracked head or bad head gasket.
Either way if the plugs are wet, you may be running into a hydro-lock condition on the engine which will overload the starting system.
-Rod
In additon to checking all the grounds as snupytcb suggested, one thing you might try is pulling all the spark plugs and checking them to see if they are wet, then try cranking the engine over with the injectors disabled (remove the fuse) as well as with the ignition disabled (also a fuse). While removing the spark plugs, inspect them for signs of raw fuel and/or coolant. If the plugs are dry and the engine cranks over, the brushes on the starter are probably short and can't handle the load placed on it by the engine compression, or the starter windings are faulty.
If the plugs are wet from fuel, you may have an ignition system that is not providing adequate spark, or the fuel injectors may be dumping too much fuel into the cylinders. This could be a faulty injector or two, faulty fuel pressure regulator, or weak coil or plug wires.
If the plugs are wet with coolant, you probably are looking at a cracked head or bad head gasket.
Either way if the plugs are wet, you may be running into a hydro-lock condition on the engine which will overload the starting system.
-Rod
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026
