Now she won't start?!?!

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J

J_DREAD-616

New Member
Posts
15
Location
Jackson, MO
After fixing the overheating issue, now my best girl (I hope my fiancee' doesn't see that!) quit starting. She's a 1998 RR 4.0 and she ran like a dream for a few days. I went to visit my Dad and she was fine. Got in to leave his house and no start just kind of "thunk" sound sort of like if you pull the lever on a houses' breaker box. All dash lights come on like normal and no odd faults show up. Doesn't sound like the starter actuates at all. Any and all help will be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
Jeff




Also my battery tested fine and the headlights and everything else seems to be in proper working order.I have checked ground connections also if that helps...
 
Last edited:
Try another battery or a jump start with the other car not running otherwise you can overcook your electrics. Sounds like the starter getting power but not enough to turn it. Battery could have gone low over the past few days if its not been used and with the doors open and shut etc and if today was only a short run then it wouldnt get enough back in from the alternator. It could of course be the starter not getting a good connection. Check battery and body earth connections too.
 
I've tried the blunt force fix and no soap. Checked connections and had battery charged and tested. I am going to get a new one regardless because I don't think it is strong enough even though this has been a new fault. The current battery is only 650 cold cranking amps and it just doesn't seem powerful enough. She never even started slowly or rough. She just stopped starting. Is that unusual? That it just happened out of the blue like that?
 
If you have been having some overheating issues and the motor wont spin over, it might be worth spinning the plugs out and trying again. It is possible one of the cylinders has filled with water and is hydraulically locked (you can't compress water). The engine will then spin over with the plugs out and you can prove the starter. Hope you get it sorted.
 
spitfire said:
If you have been having some overheating issues and the motor wont spin over, it might be worth spinning the plugs out and trying again. It is possible one of the cylinders has filled with water and is hydraulically locked (you can't compress water). The engine will then spin over with the plugs out and you can prove the starter. Hope you get it sorted.
Click to expand...


She's about 30 miles away so I won't be able to check until later when I go to work. I will see if that is the case.
 
Yeah agree with above, you really need to see if the engine will turn over even if you need to bar it over, if it does turn over and there is no water then you can start to eliminate things, tbh if it gave a thunk it does not sound like electrical/electronic problem
to me but back to basics first.
Davie
 
My mistake. No abnormal messages on the dash. Everything looks fairly normal when I turn the key.

The sound isn't loud or obtrusive, it's almost like the sound you get when you pull the main lever on a house or shop breaker box but quieter.
 
J_DREAD-616 said:
My mistake. No abnormal messages on the dash. Everything looks fairly normal when I turn the key.

The sound isn't loud or obtrusive, it's almost like the sound you get when you pull the main lever on a house or shop breaker box but quieter.
Click to expand...


Check the started motor cables have not come adrift.
 
try moving the gear selector leaver, it may show its in park but not quite, move the gear selector all the way back then forwards, I say this because i had the same problem and noise, all looked fine but the selector was not in park in the box. dose it show the "check engine" when key in position 2? :)
 
It also sounds like the starter is trying to pre-engage but the contacts are not making in the solenoid to spin the starter, hence the clunk as it's pulled in. Put some load on the battery such as lights etc and see if they dim when it clunks. If it does, your starter may be jammed or the engine locked as above. If they don't, it's the starter.
 
piggysteve said:
Does the 'thunk' come from the starter? If so hit it with a bar or something
Click to expand...

*Update*

Spent part of the day under my best girl and ascertained the "thunk" I was hearing came from a device right next to the EAS box which doesn't really come into play since I have springs not airbags. All fuses seem to be in working order and I didn't get starter off due to lack of proper tools (she is in the lot of my job, 30 miles away). Headed back in the morning properly armed with the needed stuff. It's only a matter of time!
 
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