02 Windstar with Starting Prob

[mama2jandc]

I have an 2002 Windstar that I purchased brand new, has about 88,000 miles on her. Most of the time she doesn't want to start. If I put a trickle charge on her overnight she will work great the next day, but by the second day I need a jump to get her going. Driving either short or long distances won't help with the charge and she won't start unless charged or jumped. When I try to start the "clicking noise" (sorry I'm a girl) starts. Half the time the hazards click on too for some reason. I have a top of the line battery in there so that's not the prob. I just replaced the whole transmission - that was a wonderful Christmas gift to myself!!! What's the deal. I can't afford another car payment right now and this baby is paid off.

Someone please give me some advice. Wiring, starter, alternator, spark plugs...what gives! I am so tired of asking strangers for jumps in parking lots!

Thanks,
Christine

[CraigRK]

Hi Mama2

No one has responded to your problem yet, so I thought I'd give you some free advice (worth every penny!). It's very hard to diagnose over the internet, but you will probably pay big$$$ at a dealership to have the wrong thing fixed anyways so . . .

I would guess your charging system is okay, with only 88k miles, so this will be assumed. It seems like your battery is being drained while the van is off. (Unfortunately, a common WS problem.) You need to find out what it is that is draining the battery (it's often interior lights that stay on due to faulty door sensor switches etc.), and your emergency flashers coming on are a big clue. If indeed the flashers are randomly coming on when the switch on the steering column is definitely OFF (check this!), then you likely have a short in this switch, or close-by in the steering column switch assembly (also common). It's also possible the short is in your power distribution box under the hood. It could simply be that you are accidently leaving an interior light on - I've had this problem which turned out to be one of the back seat interior overhead lights left on - hard to notice with day driving. Does your dashboard ever show show the "doors ajar" signal when you think the doors are closed? If so, it's probably a bad door sensor. Also, you might try removing the emergency flasher switcher assembly (in the power distribution box or fuse box - NOT on the steering column - it's a little electrical box that plugs into a socket and makes the emerg flashers click) to see if this stops the problem. Sometimes it's really tough to isolate a short or drain, but you have to do some detective work.

I doubt it's your alternator or your starter(although it could be), and highly unlikely it's your plugs.

In the meantime, when you park the van for an extended time period, like at night, you might want to consider simply disconnecting the positive battery cable, and re-installing it when you need to get somewhere. A hassle, but it may beat being stranded with a dead battery until you find the problem.
Good Luck!

CraigRK

[Cottreaujl]

I ran into a similar problem but only one time. I tried to start the van in the morning and the battery was completely dead. I checked all headlight, dome lights, etc. and nothing was left on.
The only thing that I can recall from the night before was that I started the van to move it out of the way and the wipers were frozen to the window. The wiper motor did not have a chance to complete its cycle and I simply moved the van and turned it off. I wonder if it was still trying to feed power to the wiper motor even after the key was turned off?

[mark v]

105,000 miles on mine and I havent had this problem.

I am guessing an Alternator and new Battery will do the job for you.

Originally Posted by CraigRK

I would guess your charging system is okay, with only 88k miles, so this will be assumed. It seems like your battery is being drained while the van is off. (Unfortunately, a common WS problem.)

[Flyingjackal456]

if nothing was left on as Craig said, it probably is the alternator (if not the alternator, then the starter)

If you own a voltmeter,shut off the car, ensure everything is off, and check the current being drawn from the battery, then go to fusebox, pull one fuse out, check current, put fuse back. Find out which fuse(s) are draining the battery, then you'll narrow down what is draining the battery.

[Flyingjackal456]

...psssh 88,000 105,000 try my 240,000 mile 1998 3.8L WS GL.

[mark v]

240,000 on original Engine and Tranny?

[Flyingjackal456]

Original engine, and i just replaced the spark plugs and cables for the first time recently (they didn't rust to the block ) I did have the tranny rebuilt once by Aamco, LIFTIME WARRANTY on tranny, torque converter.

The tranny was rebuilt and reflashed the computer for the tranny, and i snapped the drive shift...plently of power in my ws

EDIT: Tranny broke 112,000 ish miles

[mark v]

I cant see any spark plug lasting 240,000 miles or plug wire. Contact Guinness World Records about your spark plugs because you have the world record for the longest lasting spark plugs, 1 spark plug is a record but 6 plugs is just phoniminal!

[Flyingjackal456]

lol, the wires were fine, but it's sush a tight fit in the back plugs that i broke the wire (bent connector badly)

so what is typical engine life on a WS?