I have a 1998 Contour that won't start. When I turn the ignition, I
hear a clicking and all electrics work. I also have a full tank of gas.
But it seems as fuel is not getting to the engine. Advice? Get a tow?
TIA,
SD
> I have a 1998 Contour that won't start. When I turn the ignition, I
> hear a clicking and all electrics work. I also have a full tank of gas.
> But it seems as fuel is not getting to the engine. Advice? Get a tow?
>
> TIA,
> SD
Do you mean that the engine will not crank over (turn over)?
Or that it will not start and run?
If it clicks and does not turn over, then you have some issue
with the starter system. It could be a bad starter, a bad cable,
a low battery, a bad solenoid, for example.
Turn on the lights and have somebody watch them. Then try
to start the car. If it clicks and the light dim badly, the battery
may be low.
Just because the electronics inside the car appear to be working,
this does not mean that you don't have a battery, cable, or starter
problem.
SD - 20 Mar 2006 21:57 GMT
>> I have a 1998 Contour that won't start. When I turn the ignition, I
>> hear a clicking and all electrics work. I also have a full tank of gas.
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> this does not mean that you don't have a battery, cable, or starter
> problem.
I don't know if the starter is engaging. All I hear is a clicking which
I assume is the starter. The engine does not fire up at all. I will do
the headlight check while trying to start.
Thanks,
SD
jerryrigged@optonline.net - 20 Mar 2006 22:44 GMT
Sounds like you have a problem with your starter. You probably need to
replace it but you may be able to get it work if you give it a wack or
two with a hammer. It may be jammed on itself or the flywheel.
Whacking it once or twice may free it up. Tow truck drivers sometimes
use this technique when they called out to situations similar to yours.
I've used it myself and had success several times. Some times it
didn't work but it was always worth a shot.
cyberzl1@yahoo.com - 20 Mar 2006 23:05 GMT
> > If it clicks and does not turn over, then you have some issue
> > with the starter system. It could be a bad starter, a bad cable,
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> > to start the car. If it clicks and the light dim badly, the battery
> > may be low.
> I don't know if the starter is engaging. All I hear is a clicking which
> I assume is the starter. The engine does not fire up at all. I will do
> the headlight check while trying to start.
If it's sort of chattery clicking, you probably don't have enough
current to engage the bendix. Sounds like a low battery and/or bad
power lead to the starter. A bad ground would do it as well. Maybe a
ground cable from the engine to the frame is corroded or missing.
The starter is probably spinning, but not engaging the flywheel to
actually do anything useful.
JW
mnmsr - 21 Mar 2006 02:56 GMT
do not be fooled by some circuts powering up such as radio-5 to 15amps
of power required depending upon function or some lights illuminating
depending again upon circut may only need 15-50amps while most starters
require anywhere from 150-250amps to start the noise you are hearing
maybe the starter solenoid attempting to engage the starter drive/motor
but not enough to get it to go,this being the telltale sign that the
battery maybe low poor connections to starter or even the corroded
cables possibly even an alternator not producing enough energy to
replenish the battery properly,,another possibility is that starter is
working but some engines in that car had a problem with the flywheel
machineing the flywheel being the large gear the starter engages to
spin the engine to achieve engine windup for compression-internal
combustion,some 2.5l v-6 engines had flywheels that failed to properly
mesh with the starter drives and causes drive to miss the gear and
never rotate the engine to get compression.but with any internal
combustion engine it is necessary to have fuel delivered to the
cylinder and is fact there is fuel in this case being pumped by a pump
submerged in the fuel within the gas tank what works for me is to open
the gas cap and put my ear near it while a friend cycles the ignition
key from off to on a momentary buzz/whirr low pitch for about 10-20
seconds indicates the fuel pump is operational,while this maybe true
the next question is does it deliver the required pressure to the fuel
injector rail which requires a pressure guage connected to the fuel
rail if i remember correctly psi should read around 30-40 if you find
you have fuel do you have spark -the electrical energy required to
ignite the explosive mixture and is it being delivered when it is
required. so many possibilties for malfunction the cause of your no
start condition can be so many different things the correct diagnosis
requires more information
good luck
Try jump starting it. If it's the battery, a jump will get you going.
m
>I have a 1998 Contour that won't start. When I turn the ignition, I hear a
>clicking and all electrics work. I also have a full tank of gas. But it
>seems as fuel is not getting to the engine. Advice? Get a tow?
>
> TIA,
> SD