1999 Escort Wont start

Can anyone throw some ideas my why. Escort wont start. When I turn the key over the power comes on like light radio ect but when I turn over to start everything goes dead no cranking nothing just dead even the radio and light shut down. HELP!!!!! If there is any more info needed just let me know and Ill find it out for you.


thanks

What motor do you have? Is the transmission a manual or automatic? How many miles on the odometer? Has the starter ever been replaced? Does the starter may any sound at all when turned to start?
Off hand I would say the starter is grounding out when you turn the key to start. The armature is contacting the field in the starter which totally grounds out the battery and makes everything go dead. This is only if the starter clicks when turned on. If the starter doesn't click when turned to start I'd say the solenoid on the starter is defective. Either way you need a new starter.

Some more guesses to try... Even a good starter will draw many times more current than everything else added together: Thats normal. So it could be a bad ground cable or positive cable or battery connection. The wires can be corroded under the insulation (on older cars) and you wont see that only one or two strands of copper are intact - enough to run the lights, but not the starter. I had to replace the original negative battery cable or our 92, as the original was disappearing in a greenish lump. It could be a bad positive cable too - but folks often forget about the negative wires.
If you have a voltmeter, put it across the battery terminals with the engine off - it should read close to 12.5 or 12.6 volts if its above freezing. Then have someone turn on the key - but not start the engine. The voltage should still read at least 11.5. Then see what the voltage is with the key in the 'start' position.
When you turn the ignition key to the start position - arent the accessories supposed to shut off anyway? I know the radio is, but I forget whether the indicator lights on the dashboard go out too. (The car is in another state, so I cant check). Mine is a 92, and if you turn the headlights on, they are supposed to remain on even while you are starting the car. I know some cars arent this way - our family's 88 Volvo 240 for instance.
If the headlamps remain lit when you turn the ign. key to the start position, it could easily be a bad starter, or if your car has the automatic transmission, maybe the neutral-safety-switch thinks the tranny is not in neutral or park. So you could try wiggling the shifter lever.

It a 4 cyl (2.0L I belive) It has an automatic transmission. 200,000km on the odometer but the engine was replaced which now has 40,000km. It pretty sure the starter was replaced when the engine was. The starter does not make any sound at all when turned to start. Everyonce in a while it will start no problem. So I was thinking it could be something else but it seems like the starter. Fuel pump hums and everthing else seems fine it a new battery and I checked the cables so I know it not that. That you so much for your input.


Mountie

I was just playng around with it and still no start but I did notice that when I turn the key over the fuel pump hums but only for a second or two is that normal? Where is the location of the neutral safety switch?

If you haven't done so, try to start the car with the headlights on as was suggested above. If the lights dim, you have a battery problem. If the lights stay strong you either have a starter or ignition problem.

Have you tried jump starting from another vehicle?

It is possible for your battery to have enough voltage to run the radio and some other accessories, but not have the amps to power the starter and headlights.

As soon as you do get it running verify that your alternator is putting out enough voltage to recharge the battery.

Yeah. The fuel pump is supposed to run for a couple of seconds after turning the key to the RUN position. With an automatic transmission it could be the transmission range sensor. It's on top of the tranny and the shift cable goes into it. The transmission range sensor allows the engine to turn over in park or neutral. Will it turn over if you move the shift lever while in start mode? If so it's the TRS. If not you need to check out the starter. If when engaging the starter no sound is heard, it is either a burned out fusible link or bad solenoid. The solenoid can be checked by running a wire from the + battery terminal to the small terminal marked s on the solenoid. If the starter motor operates the problem lies with the ignition switch or the TRS switch. If the starter doesn't operate after being jumped, the problem is the starter itself.