windstar-no start problem

[juniorbrn]

Hi!
I have a 2000 windstar that refuses to start. All the power accessories work fine, battery is fully charged, turn key and nothing, not even a solenoid noise! Symptoms leading up to failure: had to jiggle the shift lever before turning key to make the van start. So I replaced the neutral safety switch. No Joy..same problem..
Tried both keys that have been working for years..still no joy!
Anyone have any suggestions or know of any good troubleshooting docs?
thanks

[hopeless4life]

Is the theft light flashing?

[gusvicmor]

Originally Posted by hopeless4life

Is the theft light flashing?

Hi.. my name is Victor. I have same problem. I'm back from my vacations.. parking 2 minutes and when try starter again i see smoke is coming out from somewhere. After this my van not starting and don't make any noise.
U undestand?

[garync1]

Originally Posted by gusvicmor

Hi.. my name is Victor. I have same problem. I'm back from my vacations.. parking 2 minutes and when try starter again i see smoke is coming out from somewhere. After this my van not starting and don't make any noise.
U undestand?

You need to check your battery connections also sounds like you could have a ground short.. But if your connections are really dirty sometimes it will make a little puff of smoke .not sure how bad yours was.. But if it smoked a lot it must have shorted something out. You will need to check all fuses to make sure on one or a few did not pop..Also you will need to track down that short... hope this helps...

[gusvicmor]

Thank you somemuch. I'm speak with my brother.. his talk me it is the selenoid problem.
I'm put the key in ON position and I make connetion in the starter and my van start running.
Is possible that?

[96wWindstar180K]

juniorbrn
Sounds like a bad starter. If your sure the battery is ok and the connections at the battery are ok try this test. Take the wooden partof a hammer handle and have someone turn the key to the cranking postition as if you were trying to start it and the hit the starter with the wooden part of the hammer somewhere on the metal part of the starter. Try a number of times to see if it starts. Sometimes the armature in the starter gets a dead spot and by tapping it it moves enough to get it going. If it does start it may not again. Dont leave it like that because it will fail again. Also check your connections on the starter. Good luck. Post your findings.

[BlueCaprice]

Originally Posted by gusvicmor

Thank you somemuch. I'm speak with my brother.. his talk me it is the selenoid problem.
I'm put the key in ON position and I make connetion in the starter and my van start running.
Is possible that?

If I understand you right, you are saying you put the key to the ON position, jump out the terminals at the solenoid and start it right there? If it fires right up this way with no problem then I'd say the starter itself is probably okay.

The starter solenoid will probably have three terminals on it. There are 2 big ones and a little one. If you jump from the big terminal that connects to the battery, to the little terminal, and it is starts up this way, then the solenoid is also good. You can double check that by getting a meter, grounding the minus meter lead, and with the plus meter lead on the little terminal, have a buddy turn the key. If you don't get 12V on your meter, the problem probably isn't the starter or the solenoid.

[tripletdaddy]

I have had a similar problem on both my 95 Taurus and 95 Windstar where it all of a sudden would mysteriously not start, usually right after driving it, leaving you stranded. The starter relay wire, the smallest one connected to the starter, would work loose enough to no longer work, but it would still stay connected, looking like it was just fine. So the first diagnosis was not easy. The wire is attached to the starter via a flat blade connector. Unfortunately, it remains an infrequent threat as it is not a strong connection. It's worth a try if yours is connected the same. Good luck!

[gusvicmor]

Ok... the starter is good and the starter selenoid is good too. You know it is difficult take out the ignition switch for tester? U have some squematic? Thank you so much and i'm sorry if you don't undestand me

[lorvince]

Hi, I have had the same problem. My car was running fine one day and the next day when I went to start it in the late afternoon it wouldn't start. You can hear the starter trying to crank the engine but it just won't turn over. I checked battery voltage it was good same with alternator. Both battery and alternator was new. I had the starter tested and pep boys found it was bad. I tried the new starter and like the above post I smelled burning/smoking smell. Looked underneath and saw starter was smoking. Checked starter it was good still. Found the problem by removing serpentine belt and checking all accessories for freedom of movement and found the ac compressor was totally seized up not allowing the engine to turn over. Which explained the smoking on starter when it tried to turn the engine.

[gusvicmor]

Well, the problem on my van is at bad conection and the cable from the battery to the starter have sulfate. I'm clean the wires and the van start running normally, but now, the oil light come on when my van get hot. Some mecanic talk me is the engine go be dead soon.