I have a 1996 Ford Contour. Monday it would not start without a jump. Once jumped I runs fine and starts all day. The next morning it is dead again. I am taking the battery in today to have it checked. Here is the odd thing. When you turn the key the wipers turn on. The switch is off but they move. Release the ignition and they stop. What do you think
I have a Mercury Mystique 1996. To make the story short, I tried to
start the car this morning and it didn't start. The speedometer and
wipers go crazy and the car makes a wierd sound (fast clicking) but it
doesn't start. Any tips on how to fix that
No one responded to his post but it is exactly the problem that I am having.
I have been experiencing the exact same problem that you have been having. I thought that it was due to a cheap car stereo that I had installed, however now I don't think that's the case. Did you ever find out the cause in your car?
RIJOCR
:zzz: Same thing happened to my 1997 about a year ago. I would turn the key on, wipers would run once, spedo would jump (typical of GM cars) and car would not turn over...all sorts of clicking from relays etc...
Second day (in a row) this happened, I pulled fuse box down to see if something was blown...it sure was. Fuse box was "deformed" and did not look normal. I shoved it back into its latch, car started fine. Week or so later I decided to pull it down (had been working fine for several days) after driving some, the fusebox was too hot to hold on to....
Seems these little buggers are two-piece plastic with "strips" that sandwich in them to connect the fuses/relays to the wires coming out the other side. Things open up from heat (allowing the copper strips to leave their channels) and all kinds of things happen. These strips are not very far from each other, but the important thing, it looked as if there was arcing going on across the plastic and the resistance was causing the heat/melting of the case.
Sped (as in fast as I could get there) to the local U-Pull-It used auto parts emporium, found two more just like mine...several others just like mine and not "overheated". Five bucks later, I was the proud owner of a "used fuse box" (price one at the dealer OMG!!!). It fixed the car...no problem since.
All the "symptoms" that you car is having is because of a low battary. Something is draining it when it sits for a while. Maybe your dome light isn't shutting off, or you put in a new stereo and the two + wires are reversed. There was a recall on the cars (a 10 years or 100K miles) on a bunch of the wiring harness', but I am not sure if that is what would cause it. If anyone has a 95 car with under 100K GO TO YOUR DEALERSHIP NOW because the warreny is almost over....and it coast like $1000-$2000 to have the replace it otherwise. Check your battary connections and make sure they are tight.
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