car won't start?

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themustangdude

Member

Jul 6, 2005

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6

richmond, indiana

Jul 11, 2010

#1

• Jul 11, 2010

• #1

Hey everyone I have a 95' GT 5.0 auto. All stock except tires, tint, plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor, water pump and radiator. Car has 42,000 on it. Excellent shape.
Anyway, went to work car drove beautifully. 12 hours later car will not start. I thought it was the battery so a buddy helped me jump it, nope that didn't help. then i noticed that headlights, under hood light and dome light are full strength. So, I'm thinking probably not the battery (the battery is 2 years old).
So, what ideas do you guys have? Never had any problems like this in the past.
Thanks.

 

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themustangdude

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Jul 6, 2005

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richmond, indiana

Jul 11, 2010

#2

• Jul 11, 2010

• #2

also should have noted that car will not click or even think about starting. the idiot lights get real dim when cranking.

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

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Jul 11, 2010

#3

• Jul 11, 2010

• #3

If the battery cables and connections are ok (if these were bad, they could interfere with the jumper battery's ability to assist), the starter interlock circuit might be open. Did you try wiggling the shifter a little? If the MLPS doesn't think you're really in park or neutral, it won't crank.

 

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themustangdude

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Jul 6, 2005

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richmond, indiana

Jul 11, 2010

#4

• Jul 11, 2010

• #4

ill give that a try. the cables and battery posts look ok (as far as I can see).

 

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themustangdude

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Jul 6, 2005

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richmond, indiana

Jul 11, 2010

#5

• Jul 11, 2010

• #5

nope, still doesn't work

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

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Jul 11, 2010

#6

• Jul 11, 2010

• #6

Thoguh it's not likely your issue, the cables generally rot from the inside out.

If you turn your headlights on, they stay on bright indefinitely, right? If so, have you checked the interlock circuit out? Power goes through the ignition switch, to the MLPS, to the clutch relay in the underhood fusebox and to the starter solenoid.

 

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themustangdude

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Jul 6, 2005

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richmond, indiana

Jul 11, 2010

#7

• Jul 11, 2010

• #7

HISSIN50 said:

Thoguh it's not likely your issue, the cables generally rot from the inside out.

If you turn your headlights on, they stay on bright indefinitely, right? If so, have you checked the interlock circuit out? Power goes through the ignition switch, to the MLPS, to the clutch relay in the underhood fusebox and to the starter solenoid.

Click to expand...

well i tried starting it a couple times this morning and still nothing. only thing new is the lights are now dim.
i was wondering if the mustang had something like this as i know my prelude does. i'll check that fuse. is there any other ways of checking besides the fuse/circuit breaker?
btw, thanks for your help

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

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Jul 11, 2010

#8

• Jul 11, 2010

• #8

What fuse/circuit breaker are you talking about?

You need to get a charger on the battery.

If you have a DMM, you can check for cranking power going into the starter relay in the underhood fusebox.

 

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themustangdude

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Jul 6, 2005

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richmond, indiana

Jul 11, 2010

#9

• Jul 11, 2010

• #9

got a charger on it now. lol, i was looking for a fuse under the hood. thanks, i will try that.

 

eschlenz

Founding Member

Jul 11, 2001

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Boulder, CO

Jul 11, 2010

#10

• Jul 11, 2010

• #10

I had this problem with my car about 2 weeks ago. The lights and everything would come on, but as soon as I turned the key, nothing. My battery connections were horribly corroded. I replaced them with new ones and everything works fine now.

My point: Your connections may be good enough for the lighting, but not good enough to get the starter going.

 

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themustangdude

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Jul 6, 2005

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richmond, indiana

Jul 12, 2010

#11

• Jul 12, 2010

• #11

found the problem.........dead starter. new one on its way

 

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themustangdude

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Jul 6, 2005

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richmond, indiana

Jul 14, 2010

#12

• Jul 14, 2010

• #12

Car runs and starts great. Thanks for the help