What could be the cause?

[dimania]

I am a new owner of a 95 Taurus. I've had it six weeks. I recently got the gaskets replaced and am still trying to bounce back from the cost of that. Now my car is not turning over at all. I had no problems and I was out and it wouldn't start. What might be the cause of this? Please give me some ideas on what this could be and how hard and or expensive this may be to fix. Is this something my husband with a little help from a friend could repair himself?
ANNA

[tooltimetech]

Could be a bad starter, bad battery, a discharged battery due to a bad alternator, or maybe a bad nuetral safety switch, or possibly just a loose battery cable connection. Good luck.

[dimania]

Originally Posted by tooltimetech

Could be a bad starter, bad battery, a discharged battery due to a bad alternator, or maybe a bad nuetral safety switch, or possibly just a loose battery cable connection. Good luck.

Hi
since the battery is new and all the lights, radio are working I figured that was fine. I will look into the other things.

Thanks.

[Dan_in_WA]

Put a multi-meter on the battery terminals; set it for the 0 -20 volt range. You should see about 12.6 Volts. Now try to crank the engine over. It should drop to NO LESS than 7.65 volts. If it drops below this, the battery has a problem (low charge, bad cell) or there is a problem in the starter motor that is overloading the battery (carbon brush dust making extra current paths.)

If there is no voltage drop, check the starting solenoid.

That will get you started. Let us know what you find!
Dan

[Acidbath]

Start with the fuses
starter relay
starter

Cheapest to most expensive, there shouldn't be anything wrong with the wiring since it was just working. Not sure but I think there is a power distrubition block under the hood, and there may be a fuse there.

[98taurusse]

a problem I have heard of to try is to move the shifter handle while holding the key in start position make sure to have your foot on the brake. My friend has been having that problem with his 1992 Taurus GL. Good Luck.

Leon

[Acidbath]

Yeah, I forgot about all you automatic guys, there is a switch there too.

[dimania]

Thanks everyone,

My uncle thinks it's the starter and he had to fix the same problem with my brother's 93 Sable.

[optimusfine]

You can rent a diagnostic unit from Kragen Autoparts. Just hook it up to the system and it will tell you what the problem is.

[RAYMUNDO ALAN]

Originally Posted by dimania

I am a new owner of a 95 Taurus. I've had it six weeks. I recently got the gaskets replaced and am still trying to bounce back from the cost of that. Now my car is not turning over at all. I had no problems and I was out and it wouldn't start. What might be the cause of this? Please give me some ideas on what this could be and how hard and or expensive this may be to fix. Is this something my husband with a little help from a friend could repair himself?
ANNA

Hello!!! Your problem could be as simple as no gas but your husband must to discard any simple cause, usually if the car was into a mayor repair any sensor or connector might be disconect. Good luck