2004 Grand Marquis GS start up problem - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

golddust · 02-19-2011, 09:39

Lights and radio are getting power, but car won't start. We're now stuck home for the weekend - Saturday morning our mechanic isn't open! Had this problem a few months back. I'm not the car mechanics wiz in the house so hope my explanation is understandable. The neutral switch (that's what hubby tells me it's called) had to be replaced and now it looks like it's happened again. Car is under 2 year bumper-to-bumper warranty (bought used). Any ideas on what mechanic should look for? Might as well get anything fixed we can since we aren't paying for it.

**R.S.LOGAN** · 02-19-2011, 09:52

If it's the inhibitor switch ( neutral switch ), try moving the gear selector , might work if not faulty switch . Could try a jump start in case it's not switch and just flat battery .

golddust · 02-19-2011, 09:58

Hubby is sure it isn't the battery. When this happened yesterday we were driving along, car just stopped. 15 minutes later it started up again. Mechanic hooked it up to the computer - no codes, no problem showing. This morning, won't start again.

**R.S.LOGAN** · 02-19-2011, 10:13

Didn't know from your first post that it had broke down yesterday and the mechanic had scanned car for faults . Did you mention previous switch fault ? and did he check it out ?

floater3 · 02-19-2011, 10:22

Turn the key on just enough for the dash lights to come on (don't engage starter) and listen for the fuel pump. You should hear it run for 2 seconds or so. If not, the fuel pump dying is a common problem on higher mileage cars.

How many miles on the car?

golddust · 02-19-2011, 10:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by R.S.LOGAN

Didn't know from your first post that it had broke down yesterday and the mechanic had scanned car for faults . Did you mention previous switch fault ? and did he check it out ?

Sorry about that just read back and realized I forgot to mention yesterday's break down. Yes same mechanic replaced the neutral switch a few months ago. We've been going to the same mechanic for over ten years and he's always been good with our cars.

golddust · 02-19-2011, 10:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by floater3

Turn the key on just enough for the dash lights to come on (don't engage starter) and listen for the fuel pump. You should hear it run for 2 seconds or so. If not, the fuel pump dying is a common problem on higher mileage cars.

How many miles on the car?

OK hubby is feeding me info in dribs and drabs here. He tried that. Does hear fuel pump. He's saying the starter won't engage. There's around 75,000 miles on the car.

floater3 · 02-19-2011, 10:33

So the starter just clicks? Or is there a spinning sound? If you were driving along and the car died...this is a different problem than the starter not working.

golddust · 02-19-2011, 10:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by floater3

So the starter just clicks? Or is there a spinning sound? If you were driving along and the car died...this is a different problem than the starter not working.

There's no sound at all. He doesn't think it's the starter. From what we learned last time around, this neutral switch has to 'click over' so the car will start. What we're wondering, since the switch was only replaced a few months ago, is if there is anything that would cause the switch not to work - other then a bad switch.

floater3 · 02-19-2011, 10:49

It could be the connector or wires to the switch also. There is also an adjustment on the shift linkage for proper operation. According to my manual though trouble with the TR (transmission range sensor)..it should throw a code.