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Engine not cranking with key?

Tiny
MANUELD1977
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 FORD EXPLORER
  • 4.0L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 122,092 MILES
Back in March of this year I got the best gift ever and the only thing in world that means everything to me is my mom's 2007 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition. She has passed away in 2021 from a massive heart attack. In November of last year my step dad passed away from a heart attack. In March of this year, I was given her Ford Explorer that I drove cross country from Illinois to Las Vegas and it ran great whole trip and after I got home still no issues until just about 2 weeks ago. I stopped at a truck stop to use restroom shut truck off went inside came out and turned key to start truck and nothing. Full function of everything else dash lights up for full power to everything else but engine isn't cranking at all. I thought it was the alternator I replaced it. And did same thing turn the key and nothing just a click from power distribution panel. Then I cross jumped started and engine cranked up. Had wife turn the key to start the truck and I cross jumped it and truck fired over truck ran as long as didn't turn off. When shut it off had same issue when going to start it turn the key nothing just clicks under hood. Replaced starter with new one and still same issue was able cross starter and truck fired over immediately shut off truck and get nothing but click from starter relay but truck not cranking over. Removed all power connections from battery to starter and cleaned them all up with wire brush and sandpaper to give them clean contact and rechecked all wiring to assure they all was nice and tight. But now this morning I ran a wire from battery and touched small wire on starter and engine starts cranking over. Any advice on where to head from here would be greatly appreciated. You guys helped me a few months back with my no taillight issue on my GMC Suburban. I can send a video of my issue in a little while when I get home.
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Wednesday, July 19th, 2023 AT 12:00 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
I am sorry to hear about your mom, it is never easy to lose a parent. It sounds like the starter relay needs to be replaced. here is the location so you can swap it out. Also please go over this guide:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

Here is the starter wiring diagrams so you can see how the system works. Check out the images (below). Please let us know how it goes

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Thursday, July 20th, 2023 AT 1:41 PM
Tiny
MANUELD1977
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  • 41 POSTS
Figured a short video showing you exactly what I'm dealing with may help with getting us closer to possibly issue for you. Have total faith and belief in you guys getting me to core of problem. You walked me through my first issue on my dad's suburban and all the help and advice you sent, and images helped me solve issues. So, I am positive you guys can get me to issue on this truck also.
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Friday, July 21st, 2023 AT 6:02 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for the video, it helps. it is hard to see if the security light is flashing. if not, we need to do a CAN scan because it could be a PCM or a SJB issue, you can get a CAN scanner (Controller Area Network) which will work on most cars from Amazon.

here is a video to show you how:

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

Please go over these guides and get back to us.
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Saturday, July 22nd, 2023 AT 9:34 AM
Tiny
MANUELD1977
  • MEMBER
  • 41 POSTS
When you say security light flashing are you talking about on dash cluster or alarm for truck? Now to let it be known if wife turns key to start position and holds it, I can put power right to wire going to small terminal on starter and it cranks engine over and fires up. But if just turns key to start it nothing happens as you see in video.
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Saturday, July 22nd, 2023 AT 1:56 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Do you have an aftermarket alarm system? If so, this very well could be the problem, I can't tell you how many I have removed over the years. Yes, I was speaking of the factory security system warning light.
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Sunday, July 23rd, 2023 AT 1:52 PM
Tiny
MANUELD1977
  • MEMBER
  • 41 POSTS
The only alarm system on truck is I'm assuming is factory alarm system. It's the same key fob and key came with truck when mom bought it in 2007. Don't see any security system warning on dash cluster. The only alarm light is a red flashing one on dah in middle by windshield. And it always flashes and has been blinking as me way. As it has since getting truck.
So, this evening I used test light and put it to small terminal wire of starter with key in start position and not getting no power to light up test light. Will make video in few to send in showing more key things that does happen and truck start and that doesn't happen when do other things and showing you just how truck will start every time how I do what have to but hate doing it to get truck to run.
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Sunday, July 23rd, 2023 AT 9:02 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Please upload images of the remote both front and back so I can see if it is factory or not?
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Monday, July 24th, 2023 AT 11:20 AM
Tiny
MANUELD1977
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  • 41 POSTS
It's factory key fob for truck it says FoMoCo on top of alarm fob in rear of it also.
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Monday, July 24th, 2023 AT 6:08 PM
Tiny
MANUELD1977
  • MEMBER
  • 41 POSTS
As you can see it's. Factory alarm system dash cluster doesn't have no security system light on dash or no security sign on dash cluster when put key in and turn it only light for alarm is a blinking red one on top of dash in middle where windshield and dash would come together at and meet. Send another picture of that to you but once truck is started up alarm light doesn't blink just when I set alarm on t to u cc k is when it blinks. When gets little cooler and darker will make video for you showing you exactly everything telling you and what and how I get truck to start up every time I want or have to go anywhere.
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Monday, July 24th, 2023 AT 6:17 PM
Tiny
MANUELD1977
  • MEMBER
  • 41 POSTS
That's what the dashboard cluster in my truck looks like when I put key in the on position. As you see there's no security sign or word security anywhere on dashboard cluster. In the next picture I send it's going to be of the red blinking light in middle of dashboard by the middle of windshield it's on alarm light on truck. Also, I came across an image of my power distribution panel that is in my truck according to their diagram it's saying that slot 56 B is where my starter relay is located at. Can you verify if that's correct? Can't send picture of just yet but will shortly when tablet is charged up.
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Monday, July 24th, 2023 AT 10:06 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Okay yes, please send images, they don't tell us slot number can you upload an image of the fuse panel and where the relay is missing?
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Tuesday, July 25th, 2023 AT 6:59 PM
Tiny
MANUELD1977
  • MEMBER
  • 41 POSTS
So, sorry for the super late response and update about my engine not cranking with key turn to start position. So, to update you gentlemen over at 2CarPros on the results of issue and fix for it. After the process of elimination of possibilities and replacing few well needed replacing parts and few hundred dollars later the issue was what I was suspecting it was but was fooled by few other points still in operating condition. If you recall I was able, get full power and control of all lighting and gauges of truck when turned key just wasn't getting engine cranking over. Comes out to be whole time problem was ignition switch just the one individual prong in switch that made contact and gave signal to relay to send signal to starter to crank was burned out rest of switch prongs was good except the one prong that signaled relay and starter to crank was dead. Replaced ignition switch and issue free since. I just really wanted to respond and give update in case anyone else is ordoexrun into same situation. Thank you gentlemen for all advice and direction to look into as possibilities.
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Saturday, October 7th, 2023 AT 8:44 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for letting us know, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.
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Monday, October 9th, 2023 AT 8:34 AM

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