No idea where to start with this problem..somebody help!! - Ford Forums

hobbysickness · 09-05-2009, 18:20

Ok, the vehicle in question is a 99 Taurus wagon duratec v6. Up until a week or so ago this car has been driven about once a month to keep fluids and parts moving (its been parked about a year) We never had any problem with it before parking this last time a week ago.

Now when I go to start it, it tries to turn over, but only moves the crank about a half inch or so, if at all. It's as though the starter is too weak to turn over the engine. The battery is fully charged, and I even slow charged it overnight just to make sure. Battery isnt the problem. Next I pulled the starter, bench tested it at home, it spins up fine, the solenoid that engages the starter gear with the flywheel works fine as well. I next took it to autozone, they bench tested it and said it was like new as well. Put the starter back in, same thing. Pulled the starter back out, took it apart, check the solenoid to be sure, checked the armature, brushes, and planetary gear. Put it back in, same thing. While it was out i turned the engine over a couple times by hand moving the teeth on the flywheel, it doesnt seem to be hard to turn and definitely isnt locked up.

I have also pulled the plugs out and tried turning it over thinking there could be compression lock or something, no help there either. All I can think of is maybe its an electronic problem? If anybody knows a way to fix this please give me an idea to work with I have run out of things to try. This car is more computer controlled then I like to mess with I dont want to get to deep in it without knowing much for fear of messing something else up...

**jwko** · 09-05-2009, 18:24

Quote:

Now when I go to start it, it tries to turn over, but only moves the crank about a half inch or so, if at all. It's as though the starter is too weak to turn over the engine. The battery is fully charged, and I even slow charged it overnight just to make sure. Battery isnt the problem.

I know you say the battery is not the problem, I would get it load tested to be sure. Sounds like the classic symptoms of a bad battery.

hobbysickness · 09-05-2009, 18:55

Im going to pull the new battery out of my k5 tomorrow and try starting it with that, if that doesnt work any other ideas?...

hobbysickness · 09-08-2009, 13:42

OK I tried the battery from my truck, which is brand new as of a week ago, still wont start. It does the same thing..

Does anybody know how to diagnose an electrical problem with struggling to start?...

**rtg143** · 09-08-2009, 14:55

It must have a ground or positive connection problem. Check all the connections. Body to engine and battery to engine.

hobbysickness · 09-08-2009, 15:09

Nope, not the connections at all. I was drawing a blank and on a whim decided to pull of the serpentine and start checking components, sure enough the alternator was seized. It fires right up and purrs like a kitten with the belt off... So now I need a new alternator and lower rad. hose (since I punctured it while working in the tight space...)

**rtg143** · 09-08-2009, 15:27

I started to post about turning it over by hand, then reread you original post about turning it over a couple of times. That should have ruled out anything holding it back. Well, at least you got it going. Glad to hear that.