Doors click cycling rapidly and car will not start sometimes?

2004 MERCURY MARQUIS
273,765 MILES
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BARLETTCOX
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
door locks go up and down cycling rapidly when I try to start my car listed above and the car won't crank unless I shake my steering wheel or shift into neutral and back to park.
Sep 3, 2025 at 6:58 AM
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STRAILER
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 54,832 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
This can be a bad connection at the battery. I would go over this guide to help fix it:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

Also, make sure the battery is in good shape which can cause this issue as well, if these are okay I would replace the ignition switch. Here is the location of the switch. Check out the images (below). Let us know how it goes.

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Sep 3, 2025 at 10:09 AM
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