Ford Explorer Woes (Alarm?) - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

89transam · 02-24-2004, 04:14 PM

So I finished changing the spark plugs and wires on a 2000 explorer today (the families) and to clear the trouble code I disconnected the negative battery terminal. I reconnected it and now the truck wont start! Whats the deal? I tried arming and disarming the alarm with no avail... someone please help. It ran fine (way better) when I first fired it and drove it around the block after the operation.

shakran · 02-24-2004, 07:11 PM

does it have ANY power? Does the dome light come on?

Are you sure you had the right battery cable - disconnecting the wrong one can blow things out.

89transam · 02-24-2004, 10:06 PM

Yes it has power. radio , lights, it beeps at me and everything. It just acts sort of if the clutch is not in, you turn the key and absolutly nothing happens. And yea I did the right battery cable.

shakran · 02-24-2004, 10:23 PM

Can you push start it?

Peryn · 02-25-2004, 10:21 AM

Is it auto or manual? Check the park/neutral safety switch if its an auto, or see if its got some sort of clutch switch. I know several years ago, Ford had a thing where they put a switch on top of the pedal, and the starter wouldn't crank unless the clutch pedal was depressed. After that, i would say to go check you fuseblocks. Could be in pulling the cables off, you sent a voltage spike through the system, maybe blowing a fuse for something important? Maybe also take a look at your battery terminals and cables? Make sure both are good and clean, and not corroded. Check the cables (particularly the ground) to make sure they are in good shape, not frayed or broken or anything, and make sure you have a clean solid connection to ground. If you still can find anything, i guess check the starter wires. Make sure they are in good condition, and the ground strap has a good connection. Then check the relay going to the starter. After that....im starting to run out of ideas, short of getting out there with a volt-ohm-meter and checking all sorts of connections along the way to see what is, and isn't working.

shakran · 02-25-2004, 10:57 AM

He mentioned a clutch, so I'm assuming it's a manual. If it were mine, I'd try push starting it. If it fired up, I'd know to look at the path from the battery to the key, and from the key to the starter. My suspicion is that the starting relay blew when he removed the battery cable. You'd get no starting voltage, but everything else would work.

89transam · 02-26-2004, 01:00 PM

It ended up being something to do with the alarm. As a last ditch effort before I took it in I undid the battery with the doors unlocked, plugged it back in and it fired up....wierd.

02-24-2004, 04:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
89transam Psycho Location: Central California	Ford Explorer Woes (Alarm?) So I finished changing the spark plugs and wires on a 2000 explorer today (the families) and to clear the trouble code I disconnected the negative battery terminal. I reconnected it and now the truck wont start! Whats the deal? I tried arming and disarming the alarm with no avail... someone please help. It ran fine (way better) when I first fired it and drove it around the block after the operation.

02-25-2004, 10:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
Peryn Junkie Location: San Diego, CA.	Is it auto or manual? Check the park/neutral safety switch if its an auto, or see if its got some sort of clutch switch. I know several years ago, Ford had a thing where they put a switch on top of the pedal, and the starter wouldn't crank unless the clutch pedal was depressed. After that, i would say to go check you fuseblocks. Could be in pulling the cables off, you sent a voltage spike through the system, maybe blowing a fuse for something important? Maybe also take a look at your battery terminals and cables? Make sure both are good and clean, and not corroded. Check the cables (particularly the ground) to make sure they are in good shape, not frayed or broken or anything, and make sure you have a clean solid connection to ground. If you still can find anything, i guess check the starter wires. Make sure they are in good condition, and the ground strap has a good connection. Then check the relay going to the starter. After that....im starting to run out of ideas, short of getting out there with a volt-ohm-meter and checking all sorts of connections along the way to see what is, and isn't working. __________________ Dont cry kid, It's not your fault you suck.

02-24-2004, 07:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	does it have ANY power? Does the dome light come on? Are you sure you had the right battery cable - disconnecting the wrong one can blow things out.

02-24-2004, 10:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
89transam Psycho Location: Central California	Yes it has power. radio , lights, it beeps at me and everything. It just acts sort of if the clutch is not in, you turn the key and absolutly nothing happens. And yea I did the right battery cable.

02-24-2004, 10:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	Can you push start it?

02-25-2004, 10:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	He mentioned a clutch, so I'm assuming it's a manual. If it were mine, I'd try push starting it. If it fired up, I'd know to look at the path from the battery to the key, and from the key to the starter. My suspicion is that the starting relay blew when he removed the battery cable. You'd get no starting voltage, but everything else would work.

02-26-2004, 01:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
89transam Psycho Location: Central California	It ended up being something to do with the alarm. As a last ditch effort before I took it in I undid the battery with the doors unlocked, plugged it back in and it fired up....wierd.