1998 Ford Taurus BATTERY/SHORT IN WIRING

NOW CAR WONT START

Battery drain test:

Get a test light and disconnect the negative battery cable now put the light between the cable and battery negative post is the light On? If so start removing fuses one at a time -the fuse that turns off the light is the trouble circuit. Then break out the electrical wiring diagram.

In the event you removed all the fuses and the light is still On disconnect the alternator batt. feed and the connector-if this one turns off the light-the alternator has bad diodes.

No Start:

Get a carb cleaner and spray into the carb or the throttle body on an EFI. Did it start and die? If not disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine -have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel problem, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light.

Fuel pump and Injector/s checks out-start checking the ignition system-power to coil, coil/s itself,distributor pick-up,control module, Cam and Crankshaft sensors.

If both fuel and spark is present-check the valve and ignition timing, this will lead you to problems with compression and valves opening and closing at the wrong time

Let's keep this easy. You can handle a voltmeter. I see them for $3 and $4 at various places. After you have run the engine to charge the battery, shut off the car. The battery should read around 12.5 volts if everything is OK. If it reads less than 12 volts, watch the reading and start pulling fuses one at a time checking the voltmeter each time. When you pull a fuse that makes the voltage jump up, the problem is in that circuit.

Ken