02 Escort, starting problems, ground cable?

[sacsupernerd]

I have a 2002 Ford Escort LX, Been having starting problems for about 2 weeks now, getting worse every start.

At first it was just taking 2 turns of the key to turn her over, now I have to sit there for 5 minutes. I took it to a mechanic friend and he said it was the corrosion on the ground battery cable, we cleaned it up, re mounted it, and it started on and off fine about 10 times. I left, after moving the car, it won't start normal.

So I sat there with baking soda and water and a toothbrush and cleaned all the battery cable, junction box, everything around there, cleaned up the post and put it all together. Success! (or so I thought.) 20 times it started fine. I moved the car a couple blocks and came back, started just fine! BUT when I got home, the same symptoms again. Once started, I can try and turn her over but it doesn't engage the starter, just kind of dies out a little until I take the ignition out of the START mode.

What could this be? Ford wants $100's for a new ground cable assembly and I am out of work for the most part, but I need my car to find work! Am I missing something? Is there something more I can do?

[theoldwizard]

[quote=sacsupernerd;108088]...Once started, I can try and turn her over but it doesn't engage the starter, just kind of dies out a little until I take the ignition out of the START mode./QUOTE]

I think we have a terminology problem.

When you turn the key to START, does the starter spin and not engage the engine ?

Or does the starter not spin at all ?

Or is the problem that the starter spins, engages the engine, but the engine does not start ?

Replacing the battery cable might help the first of those 3 problems.