96' Ford Windstar help needed!

[gregd84]

I just replaced the battery in my 96' Windstar, but when I tried to start it, it didn't start. I got absolutely no sounds from it, other than the alarm and radio coming on. The vehicle has been sitting idle for about a year or so, what could it possibly be?

[____]

It's probably a loose connection at the battery. Had a jeep that wouldn't even try to start but the chimes and junk would still work. Tightened everything at the battery and it fixed it. (First I changed the starter with no results... in a downpour, laying in a puddle of mud while I did it).

The little stuff doesn't require much amperage and can get power through a poor connection. The starter however draws alot of current and the poor connection just doesn't cut it.

[madmax2525]

Did you hear a clicking sound from the starter? If the Van has been sitting for a year, it may have moisture in it that has it frozen up. Try pulling on the serpentine belt towards you to move the engine a little, and get a friend with jumper cables.

If the jumper cables still have no affect, try bypassing the black battery cable and attach the jumper cable from a good metal area of the engine to the neg side of the battery. This eliminates the negitive connections. The positive side is more complicated.

Check the starter relay by taking the cover off of the fuse box beside the battery. Have a friend turn the key to the start position several times. One of the large relays should click. You can feel it with your finger. On my '02 van, it is the relay towards the bottom with two big ones beside it and one above it. This is the relay that tells the started seleniod to engage. If it is not clicking, that may be your problem. You can pull it, open it, and clean the contacts, but I would just replace it. If it is clicking, the starter or positive cables may need attention.

Sometimes a good rap on a starter will wake it up. While you are down there, check the cables for corrosion. If you have a continuity tester, (remove the positive battery cable before this test) check the resistance of the positive cable from the starter to the battery. It should be low, about 1 ohm

Let us know if you figure it out