Won't start and locks/unlocks the doors

I have a 1997 Expedition and I went out to start it...it clicks, locks/unlocks the doors but won't turn over. I tried disconnecting the battery to reset, but it didn't make any difference. Any ideas?

If it doesn't crank: Weak battery, bad cables, bad solenoid, bad starter... Do the headlights dim when trying to crank? Does the horn work?

If it cranks: Check the spark and fuel pressure. Could be fuel pump on a 97 or fuel pump relay. Is the theft light flashing?

Something that happened with my 2000 Eddie Bauer. If I hadn't driven it in several days, and started to do something where I had the doors hanging open for a while, it would start to make a click-click-click repeating sound and the lights would flicker in sync with that. The doors would still unlock. But I'd get in to crank it and it would either barely crank, or just click and do nothing. A new battery solved the problem for me. You might want to get the battery and alternator tested, lots of auto parts stores will do that for free. If you're unsatisfied with their results, go to a store where car batteries are what they do, along with many other batteries. I think I got a better battery diagnosis from them (Tennessee Battery Sales). I bought a Deka brand battery with a 30 month warranty. Emptied my pocket ($125) but I feel better about the truck.

If you want a new battery go to Costco I haven't bought a battery for my trucks or my wife's car in over 20 yrs. I just take em back before 3yrs is up and just get a new one

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Check the ground, as well as the Starter itself and Solenoid, and grab a new battery from Costco as Killer Ride says.^

Well this is embarrassing...

So I just spent 30 or so minutes dealing with this exact issue. Turned the Key, heard an audible 'Click' from the starter but it wouldn't turn over, then when letting the key return to the Forward position I hearing another audible click from the fuse box area, a couple attempts later the doors lock and unlock. Lights, Dash (Including the red Theft light), Fans, Horn, and Radio all functioning in the Forward position (Key Turned Forward) and when in the Accessory position (Key Turned Back) the radio works just fine. Starter was replaced less than 2 months ago due to this exact issue, and I replaced the Starter Solenoid myself. However after some 3 weeks the shop couldn't replicate this problem at all, which is extremely irritating considering the issue has arisen again and is biting me in the ass.

In this most recent instance, out of frustration I spammed the ignition (turning the key very quickly) trying to get it to turn over, and low and behold after some 5 minutes of spamming the ignition as well as giving it some gas it turned over. I'm dumbfounded, I haven't the slightest idea what to think anymore; Starter and Solenoid are replaced with Motor-craft parts, the Starter should be grounded correctly as its connected and grounded to the engine as well as negative terminal on the Battery which I cleaned less than 3 weeks ago... the Battery is also less than a year old.

Any help would be Greatly Appreciated.

Don't let the Starter wires fool you sometimes they corrodes inside the insulation and you don't know. Do a voltage drop test to be sure.
https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/voltage-drop-testing-for-no-start.26144/

Do that, and check the ignition switch. When they get worn, you'll get flickering dash lights, as well as the symptoms your describing. Your SUV is 22 years old, and I'd change it out, their not that expensive, or tough to do. But as always recommended install a Ford or quality part. The cheap Chinese, or India ones might make things worse.

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Well this update is a little bit late but I think the issue was the sensor in the key. I swapped to my secondary set of keys and I haven't had this issue since. Kinda shaking my head to think that a key could cause such a fuss.

Hard to believe something like a key can cause that much problems, but yes it can. Anyway glad your fixed.

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