What's wrong with my taurus??

[Ihatemytaurus]

I have a 1997 Ford Taurus GL, about 3 weeks ago, it wouldn't start....everything lit up, just wouldn't crank at all. I replaced the starter, car fired up and ran for 2 days...but the battery light stayed on. Car finally died two days later, so I changed the alternater. Again, the car started, but after 10 minutes, it started to stall and the lights inside the car started to flicker. Even as I gave it gas, the car still sputtered and lights still flickered, so I shut it off and tried to restart it.....dead! What the heck is wrong with my car? Relay? ECM? Please help!

[Dave_s]

I your check engine light on? How old is your battery? Sometimes when the alternator goes, the battery goes with it. Pull the battery and get it tested. If the engine light was on, you should get the codes pulled, but I would check the battery anyways.

[shorod]

Welcome to the forum! Hopefully we can help you change your username.

Did you check the condition of you battery cables for cleanliness and tightness? How about the other end of the cables to make sure the ground cable is clean and tight at the block/chassis? Are these molded cables or do your cables have the non-molded temporary ends on them? If the cables are not the molded type, you may consider starting by replacing the battery cable(s) with application specific cables.

-Rod

[Ihatemytaurus]

Battery is good, cables are good, so if it's not the starter, alternater or battery, what the heck could it be? I'm not made of money, but I'm finally giving in and taking it to a mechanic I know...he seems to think it's a relay.

[Ihatemytaurus]

Could this be a faulty ignition switch??

[shorod]

Could be a faulty ignition switch, it could also be a faulty transmission range (TR) sensor.

Your 1997 Taurus does not have a starter relay, so if your mechanic says that's what it is, consider finding another mechanic/technician.

You've got the battery, cables, ignition switch (not to be confused with the key cylinder switch), the TR sensor, and the starter motor/solenoid assembly.

Try starting the car in Neutral. If that works, then you probably are looking at a TR sensor issue. However, the TR sensor would probably not explain the charging system light coming on. It is not impossible though that you have more than one issue. You're car probably knows that you hate it.

-Rod

[Ihatemytaurus]

Well, it turned out to be a mixture of things.

1. A faulty ground I had missed and a fuse! My mechanic fixed it in about 30 minutes