98 Windstar won't start

[hjshort72]

I have a 98 Windstar 3.8L V6. I came out of my son's hockey practice and it wouldn't start, so I got a jump and it took right off. I drove it home, and it was fine. When I got home, I left it sit for about 3-4 hours went out to run somewhere and it wouldn't start again. It sounded like it wanted to turn over, but just didn't have enough to do it. I tried to jump it, and this time it did not work. I went and got a new battery, and it is still doing the same thing. Could this be the starter? If not, what else could it be? Please Help. Thanks.

[phil-l]

Does it sound like it's cranking properly with the new battery? In other words, is the "speed" of the sounds it makes while cranking seem like it was before the problem?

[carlos80]

Originally Posted by hjshort72

I have a 98 Windstar 3.8L V6. I came out of my son's hockey practice and it wouldn't start, so I got a jump and it took right off. I drove it home, and it was fine. When I got home, I left it sit for about 3-4 hours went out to run somewhere and it wouldn't start again. It sounded like it wanted to turn over, but just didn't have enough to do it. I tried to jump it, and this time it did not work. I went and got a new battery, and it is still doing the same thing. Could this be the starter? If not, what else could it be? Please Help. Thanks.

are your terminals clean, both at the battery and the starter?

[outwheelin]

It could be your alternator.

[jjjarceo]

First you have to check if you are getting spark in you spark plug. Have someone crank the engine and watch the spark plug.

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by hjshort72

I have a 98 Windstar 3.8L V6. I came out of my son's hockey practice and it wouldn't start, so I got a jump and it took right off. I drove it home, and it was fine. When I got home, I left it sit for about 3-4 hours went out to run somewhere and it wouldn't start again. It sounded like it wanted to turn over, but just didn't have enough to do it. I tried to jump it, and this time it did not work. I went and got a new battery, and it is still doing the same thing. Could this be the starter? If not, what else could it be? Please Help. Thanks.

Hello

Did you have your old battery "load" tested to see if it was bad or something drained it.

Was the new battery fully charged? I recomend charging a new battery with a charger so the alt. doesn't have to charge it. The alt will go full bore charging on a battery that is low. This is hard on the alt.

Are your headlights bright? How about other accesseries, do they work? Horn?

How many miles on your 98?

How long have you owen this van? How much history do you know?

When you say "it doesn't do anything" is that nothing, or do you hear clicking when the key is turned to on, to start?

Have you tried to start it in "N"?

When you turn the key on, do the lights on the dash come on, gauges move?

How much voltage is at the battery? At the starter? At the main fuse pannel under the hood? At the pannel under the dash?

Get a digital volt meter. They are cheep (under $20.00 will get you one).

Post back.

Regards

Dan