1996 Mercury Sable Won't Start

[iowafan]

I have a 1996 Mercury Sable. While driving 20-30 MPH, the engine stalled and the battery light came on. I did not notice whether the battery light came on just before or just after the engine stalled. After coming to a stop, I tried starting the engine again. Only heard a single click. Tried getting a jump start with the same results. Bought new battery from Auto Zone and put in car. Only a single click again. I then tried jumpstarting again with the same results. I thought about the starter, but don't believe the starter would have caused the engine to stall in the first place. Thought about the alternator, but believe the car should start with a fresh new battery, not to mention a jumpstart. Can anyone help with this? Thanks in advance to all. Kevin

[burrelld]

Kevin,

Sounds as though the problem is in the Starter or the Starter Solenoid. If I were you I'd remove the Starter and its Solenoid (one unit) from the car and take it to be tested. A single "click" mostly means a bad Solenoid

It is "fairly easy" to remove the Starter and its Solenoid because its located "up top". Just make sure that you disconnect the battery cables.

Many auto parts stores, Pep Boys, AutoZone, Kragens, etc. will check out the Starter and Solenoid (bench test) for free in hopes of selling you a new or rebuilt unit.

In older Fords, you could take the Solenoid apart, clean off the copper disc and contact points and get it back in service, but not on the newer parts. Those mostly are "press fitted" together so that once you get them apart you can't put them together again.

Of course, if it tests out to be a bad Solenoid, you have nothing to lose by taking the old one apart, cleaning and buffing all of the copper contacts, and trying to get it back together. Then you can pay out the bucks for a new Solenoid if that doesn't work.

One other thing that might be misbehaving (remote chance) is the Inhibitor Switch located in the Transmission Range (TR) sensor. This switch prevents the car from being started when the car is in gear.... Good luck.

David

Originally Posted by iowafan

I have a 1996 Mercury Sable. While driving 20-30 MPH, the engine stalled and the battery light came on. I did not notice whether the battery light came on just before or just after the engine stalled. After coming to a stop, I tried starting the engine again. Only heard a single click. Tried getting a jump start with the same results. Bought new battery from Auto Zone and put in car. Only a single click again. I then tried jumpstarting again with the same results. I thought about the starter, but don't believe the starter would have caused the engine to stall in the first place. Thought about the alternator, but believe the car should start with a fresh new battery, not to mention a jumpstart. Can anyone help with this? Thanks in advance to all. Kevin