I think it's my starter....

[gundy89]

Hopefully you guys can help me out here. I have a 1999 Ford Expedition. It won't start. This just happened without any other problems I've noticed. I've been looking online and I think it's my starter. I'm trying to get better at working on vehicles as I'm not very good right now so I'm trying to do it myself.

If I turn the key 3/4, All my dash lights light up. Once I turn it over I have nothing and the dash lights goes out. The starter has a faint spinning sound when the key is turned over.

Here's what I've done so far.
- Replaced the starter solenoid. Easy and cheap
- Battery is new in August and has a full charge to it
- Cleaned battery terminals of corrosion (there really wasn't any)
- Checked the Ignition switch fuses (both looked good)
- I read online that there is a neutral switch that senses if the car is in park. It said you could bypass that by putting it in Neutral and applying the brakes while starting. This didn't work.
- Checked the cables to the starter for corrosion. All are tight with no corrosion.

Can you guys think of anything else? Like I said I'm a newbie so I was trying to cover my bases before spending $120 on a new starter. (more so the 10 degree temps) I've read that they're a PIA to replace but not complicated. Thanks for all the help!

 

[tmajikman]

Take the starter off the truck, find a vise, put the starter in the vise, hook up 12 volts to the starter and see if it spins, and how fast it spins, it should turn over rather quickly, the starter could have a dead short in the windings or a dead spot, you can also get lucky sometimes and have someone turn the vehicle over and get under the truck and hit the starter with a hammer to get it started, which still means the starter is on its way out, but at least you can sometimes get on the road if need be. Hope this helps.

 

[gundy89]

Update.

Tried hitting the starter but couldn't get it to go. When I try and start it with the lights on, they don't dim or even change in their brightness.

 

[tmajikman]

I would pull the starter if you can not hear it turn over, test it your self or take it to the local parts store and have them bench test it, rule it out either way. Do you have power at the leads on the starter?

 

[Reconracer]

Get your battery checked at an auto parts store (Autzone, Pepboys, CSK, etc...) I just bought an Autozone battery in June and the thing gave up the ghost about 3 weeks ago. It tested bad and they replaced under warranty.