No power to the starter

Tiny
MOLLYKINNEY
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 FORD EXPLORER
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 20,000 MILES
Okay, I definitely need help. We have changed the starter, the starter relay, ignition switch, ignition relay and battery. And the fuses all look good but we have power to everything else just the starter. No codes are coming up on it. I have no clue. Where to look now! Definitely need help!
Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 1:48 PM

16 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good afternoon,

Do you have a theft light or security light on? It should go off after about 10 seconds on the dash.

I attached a diagram of the system for you to view.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

Check the fuses I circled for power in the on position. The one marked crank will only have voltage in the start position.

I also circled some terminals. If you jump those terminals together at the fuse block, the starter should crank. That will tell me if the wiring is good to the starter solenoid.

Roy
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Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 3:28 PM
Tiny
MOLLYKINNEY
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Yes, it has theft light and it does go off every 10 seconds.
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Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 3:34 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Okay, you need to test the fuses I circled with a test light for power. This is not a visual test it is a voltage test.

Roy
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Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 3:46 PM
Tiny
BMDOUBLE
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,139 POSTS
If there are no pats system codes, I have attached an illustrated set of quick voltage tests to verify correct input voltage and grounds necessary for proper starter relay operation.
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Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 3:52 PM
Tiny
MOLLYKINNEY
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Okay, my uncle said he's not getting power to the starter solenoid trigger wire. What do I do for that?
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Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 4:08 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Okay, that is why I attached the diagrams and told you to do the voltage checks at the fuses to make sure you have the proper voltage.

He needs to do some checks. If you can, have him jump into the conversation and I can help guide him through the diagnostics.

Roy
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Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 4:34 PM
Tiny
BMDOUBLE
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,139 POSTS
If you have 2 powers at the relay then ground the orange wire at the relay while someone turns the key to the start position, you should get power at the solenoid and the engine should crank. If it doesn't you need to verify continuity between the PCM and the relay orange wire, and also between the solenoid and the relay yellow/lb wire. If the engine does crank and there are no trouble codes, PCM is at fault.
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Tuesday, January 21st, 2020 AT 7:42 AM
Tiny
MOLLYKINNEY
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Okay, we have tried everything you guys said and nothing still not working what else could it be? The starter works but can't get power to it!
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Friday, January 31st, 2020 AT 9:23 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Can you be more specific on what tests were done and where? What were the voltages at the relay? You missed something and that is why I need specifics.

Roy
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Friday, January 31st, 2020 AT 10:21 AM
Tiny
MOLLYKINNEY
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
They didn't tell me the voltage was, but they told me that every fuses is normal. They did another diagnostics and nothing is showing up. We checked every place you guys told us and we can't find anything. So we are stumped right now, but my step dad was and mechanic and he told me something about the fuel pump. Could be it? I don't know.
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Friday, January 31st, 2020 AT 10:26 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Not for starting. The fuel pump has nothing to do with the starter.

Can you get a test light or voltmeter and do some checks?

Roy
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Friday, January 31st, 2020 AT 10:31 AM
Tiny
MOLLYKINNEY
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
We can get a test light but what would I be checking? For some reason we can get power to the little wire and everything we check it is good to all the relays and fuses, but for some odd reason we cannot get power to that wire.
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Friday, January 31st, 2020 AT 10:35 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Let me know when you are ready. You will need someone to help you with a couple of tests.

Visual looks at relays and fuses are not tests. The voltage needs to be tested. That is what we are going to do.

Roy
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Friday, January 31st, 2020 AT 10:55 AM
Tiny
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I'll have to wait for my husband he's at work
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Friday, January 31st, 2020 AT 10:57 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Okay, let me know when you are ready.

Roy
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Friday, January 31st, 2020 AT 11:01 AM
Tiny
BMDOUBLE
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,139 POSTS
If you have access to a scan tool that can view pids as well would be helpful. Specifically the pid starter_enable, which should read yes or no. If it reads yes and the orange wire to the relay does not get grounded, circuit is good, then the PCM will be at fault.
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Saturday, February 1st, 2020 AT 9:25 AM

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