I have a 98 Ford escort wagon, just replaced starter, battery and battery connectors. Will usually start, but sometimes it won't. It will just click. Then about 5min later, it will start. I have tightend all connections and cleaned the battery posts. I have had the new starter tested and it is fine. Does anyone have any ideas. I appreicate your time in this matter.

 

Besides the fact that you may have purchased a starter that was bad out of the box...

There are three other possible elements to the system:

1. Ignition Switch
2. Park/Neutral Safety Switch
3. Clutch Pedal Position Switch (if manual transmission)

The most likely cause is the ignition switch. Try this first though...the next time it hangs up, keep the key turned and have someone strike the starter with something to see if it's the starter. If it starts, then you have a bad starter.

 

THANKS, I WILL GIVE THAT A SHOT. I THANK YOU.

 

Ran into that one time where the AC compressor was bad and would occasionally seize when I parked it, all you had to do was turn off the AC which disengaged the compressor clutch and it fired right up. Auto AC is another story all its own LOL and yes I even changed the starter cuz I could not figure it out untill the one time I tryed to start it with the hood up and my good buddy eyeballing it, he saw the belt slip on the compressor pulley and then everything made perfect sense. Next time it does it turn off the AC button or pull the plug wire on the compressor clutch and give her a try what have you got to loose.

 

I had problems starting it again today, this time however it would not start up again. So I took some tools and whacked it one good time while someone was turning the key.......It started. So we nursed it home. I took the starter and had it tested. They said it was bad and replaced it. They tested the new one a couple of times to make sure, it worked for them perfect. I installed it and started it a couple of times and then it started just clicking again. I whacked it while someone was turning the key......and it started. Is it just dumb luck, two bad starters in a row? Could something deeper than: new battery connectors, new starter and new battery be the problem.......Short maybe? I am at wits end, any last minute suggestions before the ford is literally" Found On Road Dead"! Thank you for your input.

 

You could have been faked out by a coincidence. The pounding on the starter (as good of a suggestion, and worthwhile to try, as you can get) may not be what got it to go. It may have been ready to go at that moment, by itself. You most likely have some electrical failure somewhere...besides the starter. Ignition switch or neutral safety switch I don't think would be it, if you hear any click. If it were stone cold silent dead, then I'd say so. You could have a bad relay. Also, this is a longshot, but make sure you ground strap is not all corroded on your engine.

 

Thanks I'll do some more wire brushing and see how that works out first thing in the morning.

 

how about the starter fly wheel?

 

are you asking if it is engaging?

 

Ya like the brushes in the starter. which is why whacking it works. Its not uncommon to get 2 or 3 bad ones in a row. Eventually you will move up to the new or premium one.

I would also replace the battery cables to the starter to. You could have a temperature related electrical problem.

 

Are parts getting so cheap these days that it really is realistic that you can have 2 or 3 bad starters (maybe alternators too sometimes?) in a row...right out of the box?

 

It's entirely possible...especially if you are visiting one of the cheaper auto parts store that's nototious for bad electrical parts. I've gone through three starters before with them (customer purchased part - not me) and just last week we did four alternators in a row.

 

Well I appreciate the help, but when all else fails take it to the professionals. I am the second owner of this fine ford piece of work. It seems that the after market alarm sysem that the first owner had installed was making low 5 amps at the starter instead of the full 12. So time and many a burnt starter, but I learned alot of new tricks. I thank you all for your bits of wisdom. I hope to pass those on in the future as well.

 

Ford. Figure on repairs daily?

Anyway...how is that with the alarm? Why would trying to start the car have anything to do with the alarm? My car has a heater, lights, wipers, radio...and even so...my car still starts. So what is with the alarm? Could you explain this more? Maybe I'll learn something.

 

Do you check your battery voltage and crank amp? do you try with a booster pack ?
Its maybe just your battery...

 

I notice nobody has mentioned the starter relay
Fords are pretty notorious for having problems with them.
See here

It's usually on the fender well on the battery side. Most of the time it's just a matter of cleaning all the connections real good. Sometimes you just have to replace it.
Phil

EDIT: I didn't read the whole thread to see you found your problem! Glad to hear it was an easy fix.

 

many alarms have an ignition cut to disable the start signal to starter.they work by cutting the wire from switch to starter or solenoid and running it through a relay in the alarm module. if the connections at the alarm or the contacts go bad, it reduces available voltage to the starter solenoid, not alowing it to close correctly.

 

towman501 reply to the thread is totally correct. It was one of those alarms that if you did not start the car 2min after disabling it, it would arm itself again and no longer be able to start the car. So with that in mind the alarm cutting in to those certain wires, when it malfuntioned, it started cutting the voltage to the starter. Causing the low voltage. I hoped this helps a little.

 

I see.~~~~~~~~~~~~