MG63

Bought a 2008 Mercury Mariner a week ago. Yesterday my daughter said it wouldn't start. I have found that it will start intermittently. You will turn the key one time, all lights on dash everything but ignition... engine does nothing, no clicking like weak battery..etc.
Try it again, cranks fine. It appears to have something to do with the key and ignition switch?

Any help appreciated,

I wanted to search the forums for similar problems, but the search isn't working on the site this morning, sorry.

CatSkinner

I'd check the starting solenoid first. If it's getting juice, the problem lies there, if it's not, the problem maybe with the interlock in the shifter.

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Prius repellant, just add gas.

MG63

It seems like when I pressed the brake harder it cranked. Just then I pressed the brake turned the key nothing, turned it off and then pressed harder on the brake turned again cranked. The problem is I don't know if it was coincidence or not.

CatSkinner

Stand corrected, the brake interlock.

__________________
Prius repellant, just add gas.

MG63

is there a way I can bypass it when it fails to crank to assure that is the problem?

When I met the owner to drive the vehicle, she had the parking brake set when I cranked it to drive. Did that somehow mask the problem, like her setting the brakes firmly and applying the parking brake?

CatSkinner

The parking brake probably parallels the regular brake, is this a standard?

I've dug around and I'm not 100% sure how they tie in, possibly through the ABS system, hopefully someone's a little more familiar with your set up?

__________________
Prius repellant, just add gas.

temple434

Did you ever get the problem solved, I am having the exact same problem. Turn the key 1 time starts right up, then the next 5 nothing at all. I am really interested, please let me know.