Cranks but does not start after locating parasitic draw?

Tiny
ROY SCHWALBACH
  • MEMBER
  • 2012 FORD ESCAPE
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 274,000 MILES
I have the vehicle listed above that has its regular maintenance done throughout its life. Recently it had a parasitic draw on the battery so it would always drain within a week of sitting. I found this out after replacing the battery with the same issue, so I tested the draw using my multimeter. I had.2A draw and narrowed it down to fuses #25 (Interior cab) and #44 (spare). After pulling these and charging up the battery, it sat for a week and turned over like a champ but wouldn't start. It turns over and over and over but not even a little hint of firing. I can hear the fuel pump activate so is there a common fuse/relay that may have failed during the pulling/testing of the parasitic draw?
Thursday, November 10th, 2022 AT 2:58 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,162 POSTS
So, fuse #25 goes to the battery saver relay, which is interrogated into the smart junction box, which sounds like has gone out, which will cause the battery draw and the engine not to start. We should do a CAN scan which will tell us for sure, you can get a CAN scanner (Controller Area Network) from Amazon from about $32.00.

Here is a video to show you how:

https://youtu.be/u-4syLc-ifQ

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/can-scan-controller-area-network-easy

Amazon CAN scanner link:

https://amzn.to/3sX8MCX

I have included how to change the SJB out in the images below in case you need them. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, November 11th, 2022 AT 10:07 AM
Tiny
ROY SCHWALBACH
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Hello Ken, and thanks for the response.

The car started fine prior to pulling the fuses, however only after pulling every fuse 1 by 1 is when it didn't start. I can't say when the issue officially began because I never tried starting it halfway through pulling fuses. Just at the end when I needed to move it. I put fuses 25 & 44 back in but it still didn't start. Is that common for the SJB to go bad like that? I ordered the CAN scanner so now I wait.

Thanks again!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, November 13th, 2022 AT 4:28 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,162 POSTS
Yep, just disturbing the SJB can make it go bad. You can see if the engine runs on starting fluid to help narrow down the problem in the meantime. Let me know what happens.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, November 14th, 2022 AT 10:15 AM
Tiny
ROY SCHWALBACH
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I tried starting it a few times with no luck. I then pulled the intake air filter and shot some staring fluid in there without any luck either. I can smell gas after the multiple start attempts so we're basically down to no spark and the root cause of that.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, November 14th, 2022 AT 3:28 PM
Tiny
ROY SCHWALBACH
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Update:

I pulled a coil and plug but there was no spark while turning the engine over. I ran a test with a scanner, and it didn't provide any error codes so I'm at a loss. I switched around identical relays in the junction box with no luck either.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 15th, 2022 AT 6:58 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,162 POSTS
Does the check engine light come on with the key on? You used a CAN scanner? Usually with a no spark situation with no codes means the crankshaft angle sensor has gone bad.

This video shows the job being done on a similar car with instructions for your car in the images below in case you need it.

https://youtu.be/_xoGyRrHYbM

Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, November 16th, 2022 AT 1:34 PM
Tiny
ROY SCHWALBACH
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I swapped the crank sensor but there is still no spark unfortunately.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022 AT 9:03 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,162 POSTS
Okay, we should do a CAN scan because it sounds like the PCM might be out and in need of a replacement.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022 AT 12:20 PM
Tiny
ROY SCHWALBACH
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Sorry I missed one of your questions Ken. Yes, the check engine light comes on when the key is in the prestart position. Nothing in the cluster is out of the ordinary as far as the "dummy lights". The CAN scan never gives me any error codes, but the I/M test gives me the display screen I have attached.

Thanks again for taking the time!
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, November 25th, 2022 AT 8:19 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,162 POSTS
Okay, these are monitors which the car must be driven through a few hot and cold cycles of the engine to set so they shouldn't be an issue. Sometimes the CAN scan will not pick up a bad SJB issue.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, November 26th, 2022 AT 11:25 AM
Tiny
ROY SCHWALBACH
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Got it running. As embarrassing as it is, I had the car towed to a shop and apparently fuse 25 wasn't reinserted as well as I thought it was. 25 feeds the coils so once they popped it in right it fired up like a champ.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, January 6th, 2023 AT 2:50 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,162 POSTS
Glad you could get it fixed, thanks for letting us know. Please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, January 7th, 2023 AT 11:04 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Engine Not Running Content

Car Cranking but Not Starting? Try This
VIDEO
Car Cranking but Not Starting? Try This
In­struc­tional re­pair video
Engine Not Starting
GUIDE
Engine Not Starting
Over the past 20 years at 2CarPros we have iden­ti­fied the top prob­lems that are eas­ily fixed. This guide can save you a trip to the re­pair garage or call­ing a tow truck and...
VIEW MORE