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Ford Escort sometimes won't start unless jumped (battery good!)
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JustinZ
Anonymous Poster
jmz15@pitt.edu
Feb 3, 2009, 11:55 AM
Post #1 of 5
(3915 views)
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Ford Escort sometimes won't start unless jumped (battery good!)
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Ok, my girlfriend's 2002 Ford Escort ZX2 has trouble starting. Sometimes it fires right up, but most of the time, when the key is turned, there's a single click and nothing.
When this happens, a simple jump-start will start the car right up. It seems to be completely random when the car doesn't start.
Lights, fan, etc are on, and we tested the battery and alternator at Advance Auto. I cleaned the terminals and she got a new starter ~8 months ago (had similar troubles starting -> mechanic said the starter had a flat spot)
Everyone I've talked to about this is stumped... Any ideas??
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 3, 2009, 4:54 PM
Post #2 of 5
(3910 views)
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Re: Ford Escort sometimes won't start unless jumped (battery good!)
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Hmmm - If the jump start always works that suggests a problem with cable connections at the battery post to cable ends cleaned or not -- OR -- Checked or not that this battery has had it. How old is it if you know?
Cable ends can be replaced or whole cables - go for quality! Don't forget cleaning the neg engine end of battery cable too.
Flat spot in starter is a maybe but I don't see why a jump would help at all if it really had a dead spot like that unless battery's amp delivery is impaired. Low amps usually result in the machine gun sound of starter's solenoid and not a single click,
T
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
Feb 3, 2009, 4:59 PM
Post #3 of 5
(3909 views)
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Re: Ford Escort sometimes won't start unless jumped (battery good!)
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This sure smacks of either a bad battery or a poor connection at the battery, starter, or ground. Even though the battery terminals may 'look' okay, take them off (negative first) and clean them. Look for any corrosion going into the cables, themselves. Check the connection at the engine block where the ground (negative) cable connects. Lastly, with the battery cables still disconnected, the the cable connection at the starter to make sure it's tight. If all the above is good, have the battery load tested. (Of course, you may want to do that first, before you get your hands all greasy ). Good luck.
Loren
SW Washington
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Feb 3, 2009, 5:03 PM
Post #4 of 5
(3902 views)
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Re: Ford Escort sometimes won't start unless jumped (battery good!)
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Thanks for the input, I'll try this stuff first. The battery is only about 9-10 months old, so it should be good, but...
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
novemberriegn@yahoo.com
Feb 13, 2009, 1:32 AM
Post #5 of 5
(3868 views)
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Re: Ford Escort sometimes won't start unless jumped (battery good!)
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girlfriend needs to get a new battery and new pos. and neg. cables (both battery wires), battery can be checked by a voltage drop while starting. put a volt meter to the teminals and crank it. it no drop is evident (like less than 10 volts) you can suffice, otherwise the battery goes. but you need to replace the wires as this may be the main cause of problem if bat is good...bad wires allow a click (single) at solenoid, but shorts after it is heated by current attempting to get by...
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