Starting issues after being in an accident?

BSHAFER6

MEMBER
1996 FORD BRONCO
5.8L
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
171,000 MILES

I have two questions. My vehicle was parked and some guy driving under the influence decided he wanted to park his Nissan Rogue under the front end of it. He hit it so hard that it broke the steering gear assembly and moved it about 5 1/2 feet. Before this happened, it was very dependable, I could get in the vehicle anytime and it would start right up. Since it was hit, it has become very unreliable. It either won't start at all, or it will start, and I can drive to the store and come back out, and it won't start. So many questions, could it getting hit have caused this and any idea what I need to do to fix it?

6 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,513 POSTS

Sorry to hear about your accident, there is an inertia switch located on the right side under or near the kick panel by the passenger side which sounds like it has been tripped. There will be a reset button on the top push it down and you should hear a click which means the switch is reset and the engine should star again. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.

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Wednesday, March 1st, 2023 AT 5:49 PM

BSHAFER6

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7 POSTS

I took off the kick panel and found the inertia switch. It didn't appear to have been tripped, but I went ahead and tried to start it. After putting a jumper on it, it fired right up. Let her run for about a half hour took for a spin around the block. I shut it off, and tried to start and it fired right up. I got home from work today, tried to start and battery is drained. I will update after I charge the battery. Thank you for your help.

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Friday, March 3rd, 2023 AT 4:01 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,513 POSTS

Do you have an alternator warning light on? If so, you might have a bad alternator not charging the battery. If not, the battery could be bad. After charging it, please try this guide below to load test it:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

Please go over this guide and report back.

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Saturday, March 4th, 2023 AT 11:14 AM

BSHAFER6

MEMBER
7 POSTS

No, the battery was replaced in May after I got it back from the body shop. It has been sitting, pretty much the last 8 months, because it wouldn't start, and there is something that is causing it to drain unless I start it weekly. Been like that for a couple years now.

So, I got the battery fully charged and she won't start again. Checked the inertia switch and it was all good. It will crank and crank, it just won't start. But if I spray starting fluid into the air intake, it will start and kind of run for 30 to 45 sec, then it shuts off.

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Saturday, March 4th, 2023 AT 6:39 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,513 POSTS

It is common for the AC compressor clutch relay to stick on causing the battery to drain out. I would remove the relay to see if the drain stops, also when you turn the key on can you hear the fuel pump run in the tank for about 5 seconds? of not let's test for power through the inertia switch using a test light.

This guide can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

This guide can help for the battery drain:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-dead-overnight

Please go over these guides and report back.