97 XLT 2.3L turning ignition to start kills all power
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97 XLT 2.3L turning ignition to start kills all power
Good morning all,
Ive had a manual '97 with the 2.3L for about a year, it had some trouble starting in November due to cold weather (the battery was pretty old and gave up). Replaced the battery, no issues until this week.
I drove to work (less than 10 minutes) and noticed it was running rough, figured I'd look into it more on lunch. Parked and took my keys out, and the engine just kept running, but very rough. Like it was at most making 200 rpms.
Best I can tell, the starter was still engaged and cranking the engine over as hard as it could. I put my keys back in, it fired right up as soon as i gave it power (not turned to start, just on), and the rough idle noise stopped, it ran happily as ever until I turned it off (so the starter finally disengaged).
At lunch, went to see if i still had a problem, and I got a click and then had zero power. Figured maybe the battery had died due to the starter problem, tried to jump it, but still got nothing. No dash lights, no radio, not even head lights. Metered the battery, shows a solid 12v.
The next day, I checked to see if it had fixed itself (why not) and i got lights and power, but turning the ignition to start just killed everything. Checked all the main fuses and they looked fine. Checked the battery terminals and they were a little dirty, but cleaning them didnt change anything.
After bumping around a few forums, I found that all power runs through the starter solenoid before it gets to the main distribution box, and mine looked pretty old. Figured maybe its wearing out, and its a $40 part, easy to get to, so I just changed it out.
Unfortunately, I got the same thing. Put my keys in, I get lights and the driver door alarm, then as soon as I turn to 'start' I get a click and then all power goes out, even headlights. After it sits for a while on its own (overnight), I can get power to the cab as long as I dont try to turn the engine. But as soon as the starter tries to engage I lost all power to everything.
My next thought is to pull the starter and get it tested, but I dont see how a bad starter kills all power and then lets it come back after sitting for a while. Any advice or tests i can run would be hugely appreciated, otherwise ill probably have to call a tow for it before too long.
Ive had a manual '97 with the 2.3L for about a year, it had some trouble starting in November due to cold weather (the battery was pretty old and gave up). Replaced the battery, no issues until this week.
I drove to work (less than 10 minutes) and noticed it was running rough, figured I'd look into it more on lunch. Parked and took my keys out, and the engine just kept running, but very rough. Like it was at most making 200 rpms.
Best I can tell, the starter was still engaged and cranking the engine over as hard as it could. I put my keys back in, it fired right up as soon as i gave it power (not turned to start, just on), and the rough idle noise stopped, it ran happily as ever until I turned it off (so the starter finally disengaged).
At lunch, went to see if i still had a problem, and I got a click and then had zero power. Figured maybe the battery had died due to the starter problem, tried to jump it, but still got nothing. No dash lights, no radio, not even head lights. Metered the battery, shows a solid 12v.
The next day, I checked to see if it had fixed itself (why not) and i got lights and power, but turning the ignition to start just killed everything. Checked all the main fuses and they looked fine. Checked the battery terminals and they were a little dirty, but cleaning them didnt change anything.
After bumping around a few forums, I found that all power runs through the starter solenoid before it gets to the main distribution box, and mine looked pretty old. Figured maybe its wearing out, and its a $40 part, easy to get to, so I just changed it out.
Unfortunately, I got the same thing. Put my keys in, I get lights and the driver door alarm, then as soon as I turn to 'start' I get a click and then all power goes out, even headlights. After it sits for a while on its own (overnight), I can get power to the cab as long as I dont try to turn the engine. But as soon as the starter tries to engage I lost all power to everything.
My next thought is to pull the starter and get it tested, but I dont see how a bad starter kills all power and then lets it come back after sitting for a while. Any advice or tests i can run would be hugely appreciated, otherwise ill probably have to call a tow for it before too long.
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