95 wont start

RoushTbird

New Member
Jun 6, 2008
59
0
0
DFW
Well, I turn the ignition, i hear a "solinoid" pop and all power goes dead. I wiggle the power distribution block a bit, and the interior lights come back on, I can turn on the stereo, so i turn the key half on. I hear the fuel pump prime, then turn her over to start and POP....dead again... What in the heck? Any Ideas....I love my mustang, but im thinkin she is lame, and here in Texas, you put down a lame horse.....so Someone please help my pony...
 
There are a lot of things this could be. Can you pull codes? First thing you need to check is that you are getting spark and fuel.

This happened to me once and it turned out the inertia switch in the trunk of these cars had for some reason set itself, thus cutting power from the fuel pump. The switch is designed so that if you roll over the fuel flow stops.

Adam
 
A dead starter can also cause similar problems. Have you tried having someone tap the starter while you try to start it? Sometimes if its a little seized itll break free using this method. Whats the condition of the battery? Id start with the easy things first. Having replaced dozens of starters with similar no start concerns, personally thats where Id start. We usually get at least one tow in a week with similar concerns that end up being a bad starter. Good luck and let us know what you find.
 
If you put a jumper battery on, what happens?

Have you checked your motor grounds and battery cables?

Has the battery been load tested?
 
I replaced both leads, and the battery has a standing 13 v charge. I would think the starter as well, but it cuts the whole power to the car. Even the dome light goes off. It does sound like a loud pop from the starter though....Ill try to change that and see what happens.

Thanks for the Ideas
 
I had something similar happen - when I tried to start the car, everything died including the interior lights. After turning the ignition off then back on, the lights would come on, but not immediately. Kinda like the difference between turning a house light on using a light switch, or turning them on with a dimmer switch. Even though my battery showed a full charge, I still had a dead cell in it. So it didn't have enough cranking amps to turn the car over.
 
As noted, voltage isn't indicatative of amperage. I would atleast try a jumper battery to see if the car starts. If so, this 2 minute test can save headaches with the starter swap.
 
Everytime I have had problems like this in the past it has been a bad connection somewhere. Make sure the posts on the battery are clean and all the connections from the battery are clean and tight. If you wiggled the power distribution block and the power came back on I would start looking there where the battery connects to it.
 
Well, I replaced the battery, and that didnt do anything for me....I needed a battery anyway, but that didnt fix it. I beat on the starter with a prybar and hammer through my headers, while my buddy turned her over. She started right up.... I think the wiggle of the distribution block was just a coincedince of the power coming back up... Its prolly a starter I reckon.
 
I FOUND IT!!! It wasnt the starter.... thanks desertcox05. my battery cable was corroded. Replaced it and shes a good to go...

Btw....

First track day: 1/8 - Memory Dragstrip Denton, TX

ET 9.5
60ft: 2.2
Trap: 72.9 mph