91 explorer no start, power loss???

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A n A - 26 Apr 2007 00:28 GMT

Hi,

I have a strange issue. I've asked around home and nobody knows what to do.

I have a 91 explorer xtl 4 l. w/about 100k miles on it. It was starting fine
til I went to leave for work one morning. I tried starting it, heard one
click form the starter then lost power from the battery. I tapped on the
starter thinking it may be stick, didn't help. I checked the terminal
connections, power came back so I tried again, the problem came back, one
click then lost power. I tried another battery, got several clicks from the
starter but that was all, I didn't loose power. I figured I had a weak
battery and bad starter. Replaced the started, put in original battery and
tried starting the vehicle again..... one click and power loss... argh. I
put jumper cables on the Explorer just incase the battery was the issue but
no resolution.

Help?

Thanks
Allan

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Happy Traveler - 26 Apr 2007 02:15 GMT

You already know you have a dead battery. With a good battery, if all cables
and connections are solid (including the battery negative to engine block
strap), the part that remains is the starter relay. You should have checked
that before replacing the starter. Not sure where the relay is in your
vehicle - it will have two thick cables attached; one going to the starter,
the other to B+.

...

>I tried another battery, got several clicks from the starter but that was
>all, I didn't loose power. I figured I had a weak battery and bad starter.
>Replaced the started, put in original battery and tried starting the
>vehicle again..... one click and power loss... argh. I put jumper cables on
>the Explorer just incase the battery was the issue but no resolution.

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Ashton Crusher - 26 Apr 2007 06:58 GMT

>Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>Thanks
>Allan

Many people have reported that over time the battery cables corrode on
the inside and cause this kind of problem. They often still look
great on the outside but the inside is gone near the terminal end.

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Ulysses - 26 Apr 2007 20:35 GMT

> >Hi,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> the inside and cause this kind of problem. They often still look
> great on the outside but the inside is gone near the terminal end.

I agree. That would be one of the first things I'd look at.

I think the starter relay is on the fenderwall on the passenger side not far
from the battery. You can test it by bypassing it.

If you remove the starter you can test it and the battery by using your
jumper cables. If it doesn't spin then either the starter or battery is bad
(or the jumper cables ;-).

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