1994 Ford Taurus wont start

GNUSENSE

MEMBER
1994 FORD TAURUS

I have a 1994 Ford Taurus (3.8) Fuel Injected V6 with about 81,000 miles on it. Recently I went to start the car to warm it up in the morning for work and it would not start. It sounded like it had a little bit of juice because I could hear it sounding like it wanted to start. The lights and everything were able to come on but it just wouldn't start. I ended up having it jumped and it started right up. Later on when I went to start up the car to leave work the same thing happened but this time it didn't sound like it wanted to start (less juice). When I gave up I noticed now the power (stereo, clock, door locks etc.) Would not work. My question is does this sound like a bad battery or an alternator problem?

5 Replies

FORDTECH1

MEMBER
23 POSTS

I would say if you made it to work with a low battery the charging system should be working. Change battery.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Thursday, March 16th, 2017 AT 12:42 PM

GNUSENSE

MEMBER
5 POSTS

But if my alternator was bad or going bad would it still allow me to jump the car to get it running? I didn't notice any signs of my battery being weak prior to this incident.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Thursday, March 16th, 2017 AT 12:42 PM

GNUSENSE

MEMBER
5 POSTS

Thank you by the way

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Thursday, March 16th, 2017 AT 12:42 PM

TAURUSWHEEL

MECHANIC
718 POSTS

Sounds like the battery just failed, it's how most go away, a cell will short out or something along those lines, no warning. If the alt is bad the car will only run as long as the battery has enough volts to power it, hence reserve capacity number when you buy the battery, that number is theoretically the time your car will run with minimal accessories if the alt fails. If your jump=starting the car and it runs alright, but you still need jump, the battery is shot. A little tip, buy the most powerful cca and reserve capacity battery you can fit into your battery tray

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Thursday, March 16th, 2017 AT 12:42 PM

GNUSENSE

MEMBER
5 POSTS

Thanks for the knowledge and advice. Pretty much how it happened was I went to start the car in the morning so that I could warm it up as I got ready to leave for work and it wouldn't start. It made an errrrrr sound like it wanted to start but nothing. I had it jumped and it started right up and I ran a few errands before work. Leaving the car running just in case. Once I arrived at work I obviously had to kill it so I did and when I went to start it up to go home the same thing happened except it sounded like it had nothing left. When I went to lock the doors I realized there was no power to lock them unless I manually used my finger to press down the locks. The clock went off and radio was unable to come on as well. One thing I did notice was after I jumped it that morning my Anti Lock light lit up for some reason? I'm guessing because I jumped it something electronic happened? I had no problems with anything else, just that it was lit up. Anyway, from what i'm hearing i'm dealing with a dead battery. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something else first that way I didn't waste money on a battery if it were the alternator or some sort of circuit.

Thanks again.