1999 Expedition just went dead

[JimT]

OK Folks,

I'm stuck (physically and mechanically)....

I have a 1999 Expedition 5.4 4WD that is dead. Car was running fine, came back to the house turned if off...no issue. Went back to start the vehicle, turned the key, got the customary ding, ding, ding, started to turn over and nothing. No lights, no gauges moving nothing...only other thing that was odd was that the speedometer was at 100 MPH vs the normal zero.

Checked the solenoid, checked the fuses (including those under the hood), checked the fuse-able link...all fine. Bought a new solenoid (just to be certain) and made an odd discovery. When installing the new solenoid, we noticed that if we reversed the wires we would get power to the lights and the vehicle would start (only let it run a couple of seconds as the starter was still cranking). Also, the starter will engage if you jump the Solenoid.

I'm stumped....hoping someone has seen this before and can assist.

 

[1955moose]

Sounds like a bad ignition switch. Get a test light or volt/ohmmeter, and pull small wire that pushes onto firewall solenoid. Have an assistant turn key to start, see if light lights, or if you get voltage on meter. Easy and fairly cheap to replace ignition switch electrical part. Be sure to buy a Motorcraft or good one, stay away from the cheapies. Let know what you get.

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[JimT]

Great suggestion...unfortunately, I get a reading on the volt meter with the ignition on and zero when off. Also found online where someone had chaffing on the main power line where it ran under the AC hose...not that either.

 

[JimT]

Question....just to make sure I installed the solenoid correctly, both the black and red wires connect to the bottom terminal on the soleniod, correct? When I do that, I get power to the interior and dash but nothing when I turn the key.

 

[stamp11127]

https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/starter-wont-disengage.36584/page-2#post-312380

See #48 for a link to the solenoid pic on Google.

 

[JimT]

Excellent, thank you!!!!

We have that installed correctly and now get that wonderful "click"...it's not cranking but we have power throughout the vehicle. It now appears that it's the solenoid on the starter. In testing it, we found that there are (or in our case were) two small rubber plugs on the bottom of the starter, one is missing and it appears that there is oil leaking slowly....does anyone know if you can buy replacements or am I looking at a new starter?

 

[stamp11127]

Starters normally are dry. Oil is from a leak above the starter, usually valve cover or head gasket. You are probably better off getting a rebuilt starter.

 

[JimT]

Which is exactly what we just did and we're back up and running! Thanks stamp11127!

 

[1955moose]

I bought a Ford reman starter from Ford about 2 years back. Mine original went south pretty quick. go with Stamps suggestions, don't try to [emoji205] around with old one. Although when it's out, you can have Oreillys or Auto Zone do a bench test on it if you want. 99-02's are famous for head gasket oil drip. My 2000 does it, but untill it gets bad, I'm not going to yank heads.

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