99 windstar won't start

jlfare · 11-21-2006, 12:43 PM

When I go to start the van it just makes a clicking noise. I can not start it by jumping it with another car, but I can with my battery charger at 200 amps. I have replaced the battery and it still did not start. I had a start/charging system test done along with a drop test and everything came back good. The check engine light is NOT on and does not come on. We have an auto start, and replaced the solenoid to that but it is still doing the same thing. Any ideas?

goon · 11-21-2006, 10:32 PM

first check your grounds (by the battery the little one) battery connections are clean. what was the starter amp draw

jlfare · 11-29-2006, 11:32 AM

I had already checked the battery cables and cleaned them and the post. I also cleaned the cables going to the starter. As for the Amp draw on the battery it was in normal range according to the guy at Auto Zone and the machanic I took it to. He could not get it to not start when I took it in so there was nothing else he could do unless the problem was repeated.

kmcc15 · 11-30-2006, 08:14 AM

You and I are having the exact same problem. We changed the alternator, although I'm not sure we needed to. We go a couple of days with no problems sometimes. Other times it takes it anywere from 5-45 minutes to start and we have been stuck for hours. Does your battery light come on ever? Ours does sometimes, but we have had the battery checked as well as the alternator. The lights work were getting full power but the car won't start. Just clicks. We have been able to jump it using a charger, but I'm starting to wonder if thats just a fluke, because it doesn't always work. I saw a mechanic on Monday and he was convinced it was the neutral safety switch. He said to jiggle the gear shift while in neutral. This isn't working for me today. I'm stuck at home

He thought that because he started it in neutral, but i'm not sure that wasn't a fluke. Have you gotten to the bottem of your problem? I also read a thread from 120unce, that talked about the solenoid on the starter and a coil relay, which is like reaing german to me.

jlfare · 11-30-2006, 09:03 AM

No my battery light has not come on at all. The battery charger always works for me. But not a jump from another car. I am waiting for it to do it again so I can track it down through the wireing with my multimeter and see where the power is not reaching. That should give me a better clue to the problem area.

Fixinaford · 12-01-2006, 07:05 PM

My daughters car same problem ,took out the starter and had it tested at a local flaps. They said it was bad so we got another , worked for a few days then back to the just click thing .Will check/clean all the connections and check back with you .

Brokendownemptypockets · 01-27-2007, 09:19 PM

Sheesh man everyone seems to have the same problems. this is a great forum to find answers or just ideas to help solve problems. I have had the same problems too and am working through them one at a time. The starting thing is the same for me. Got it towed once and now I don't want to tow it again. Id rather push it. But it apperas that the vans are tempermental. In the cold weather it don't start at all just clicks and that is all. I was going to do a chnage of all the wires and plugs but waited and got some more advice on other things I could do that were not as expensive. I got some gasline antifreeze and it worked great. this is the first time I tried it and it worked...... for today, tomorrow might be another thing, lol

kenneth j somers jr. · 01-29-2007, 04:27 PM

the car wont start! There is a reset button inside the jack compartment under the insulation something to do with the emergency fuel pump shut off
this is the reset switch cost me $105.00 to find out about that.

confused1096 · 01-30-2007, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenneth j somers jr.

the car wont start! There is a reset button inside the jack compartment under the insulation something to do with the emergency fuel pump shut off
this is the reset switch cost me $105.00 to find out about that.

Yes, it shuts off fuel flow in the event of a roll-over. The old escorts were bad for that switch going out (I went through three switches on two Escorts). I didn't know the vans did the same stunt.

Brokendownemptypockets · 02-04-2007, 08:00 PM

Well it's at it again. the damn Van won't start. It is wierd cause it statrts right away the first try, then if you move it a little and wait a second or two then turn it off for a few minutes, then turn it back on it won't start again. Just the clicking sound, nothing else. So my idea of adding antifreeze might have been a fluke too. So now I am back to square one.
heeelllllppppp.