Intermittent not starting issue

Yes, it cranks and no there are no dash lights on. It has always started when I get ready to go somewhere but when I get back into my car to go home sometimes it does fine, other times it tries but doesn't. Usually after the second attempt to start it starts but this past Friday after 2 attempts, I tried something else that I'd read. I put it in neutral and it started but then the next time I got in it to go home it started fine. That's what I mean about being inconsistent and It's making me a nervous wreck. The guy from church that jump started it the day I thought I'd left my lights on, which was a month ago, said he could hear something still running and told me to make sure the light switch and radio was off before he jump started it. He told me that day if the relay switch that was still running with battery being dead was going bad, I'd probably continue to have starting issues but I didn't so never thought about it when the inconsistent starting problem started last week. I have read everything and anything I can about what could be causing the starting problems. I'm sorry but I live on a strict monthly income so I can't just pay for everything it might be but isn't. I just paid for a new starter, plugs and wires which was $288.00 for those parts and labor and it didn't fix it and now the guy at the garage is telling me it's the neutral switch because I told him that one time when it wouldn't start, I tried it in neutral and it did start but I also read that my car will start in both park and neutral so why do I need a new neutral switch if it's fine? That's going to be another $138.00 plus their labor cost of $80 and if that doesn't fix the problem, they'll tell me it needs something else. Isn't there some kind of diagnostic test to rule out what it isn't or is for a heads up on where the problem is? I've exhausted all resources for paying for more parts that don't fix the problem and it's just going to have to sit and that sucks because all I use my car for is groceries, take my dog for his pedicures and church but it's my source of independence that I'm not ready or willing to give up on so please I really could use some positive info. Feeling hopeless and defeated. Why does it do okay sometimes and then sometimes not? I think I read about it not being the relay switch but there's whole lot of things it could be like the ignition switch, fuel pump, fuses, sensors, starter which I just paid for along with new spark plugs and wires and a couple of other things I can't remember right off because I'm in panic and anxiety overload which I've struggled with for most of my life but have learned to avoid the triggers and drama that makes it worse. Breathing exercises, journaling and walking helps but like I said my car is my independence to be able to take care if myself so I hope you can give me some positive info because like I said i'm not ready to give up on the independence of taking care of me, myself and I thank you for the info and reply so quickly yesterday.
Trudy Yates

It doesn't get hot and there's no dash lights on and it is always starting when I first get into it to go somewhere and then when I start back home that's when it might start and might not and I tried it in neutral one time because like I said I read about that online when it won't start back in park to try it in neutral but doesn't work all of the time either so I put it back into park and this time it worked so idk but totally frustrated but I'm not paying for another part and labor and then that not fix it either I can't living on a fixed monthly income. I've struggled most of my life with panic and anxiety issues but have learned what the triggers are to avoid but my car problem is making it so much worse and knowing myself as well as I do and for the 61 years old, I won't stop trying to figure out what is really going on with my car I just want to get it fixed. I'm just not ready to give up my Independence of being able to take care of me, myself and I and my little furry baby so I'm praying for more positive input rather than negative.
Anyway, thank you for replying.
Trudy Yates

Hey, thank you, you've already made me feel so much better. But to answer your question, yes, the starter works fine. That's the part along with plugs and wires I just paid to have done. I'm so relieved that I didn't go get the estimated piece of paper that my church needed to sign off on helping me with paying for the neutral switch. That guy texted me and called three times to tell me he had the new switch and that it would only take about an hour to do it but then I've had major changes at my apt complex too. Owner sold the property the same day the new owners were here to introduce themselves along with the rent would be going up almost $200.00 by the first of July. That's a huge increase all of a sudden but finding out they can and will do whatever they want without a second thought. I'm so glad I didn't take that form back to my church to sign off on it to have the neutral switch put on my car. I was even considering selling it to the maintenance guy that's liked this car since I got it almost 4 years ago. It still looks pretty good for a car that was totaled and rebuilt but just not ready to give up on it just yet. It's great on gas and everything works great until the starting issues started. Anyway, I told the guy from the garage that there was no rush because with it being a holiday weekend there wouldn't be anyone back in the office before Tuesday so it would be a little while. He's finally stopped texting and calling.
Anyway, thank you so much for explaining what I was still confused about and wasn't getting any help from anyone else and believe me I've called everywhere I can try to get help before I paid for another part that may or may not fix it either. The starter works, no dash lights on and everything else seems to work perfectly fine and it's not consistently giving me problems that's what's so frustrating. I went to church yesterday and it started back fine to come back home. I'm just worried about hurting my car using it just for the essential things needed and I hate to have to ask anyone to take me anywhere and yes, I know everyone needs help at one time or other I'm just one to do ask much.
Again, thank you for helping me to have a better understanding about my car problem.

Thank you so much. It has always started when I get into to go somewhere but the starting problem is usually when I try to start it back to come home but other times it starts back fine. Like this morning I had to go get a cashier's check for my rent because the new owner hasn't given me their account info so I can set it up in bill pay. Anyway it started back fine so on my way back home I stopped at Ingles because it's on my way home and came out to go home and same problem so I put into neutral but it didn't work this time so I tried it back in park and it worked but I always pull up and back in because it's easier to pull out than backing in when the parking lot is full. I get too nervous trying to judge backing out, but I didn't back up far enough and it's not being very cooperative so I'm taking a break from my car's starting issues and take my furry baby for a walk and a potty break. Once again feeling like it's a hopeless situation again. So, I will try it again in a bit. I just need to get away from my car's starting issues for a bit. Also, I haven't tried that link you sent me yet but will let you know when I do. Again, thank you for your help.

I read through the info about the crank shaft sensor and yes, I've wondered about the heat and cool having something to do with the starting problem. As far as I can remember it's always started from home after sitting here and the starting problem is after I've been to the store and get back in it to go back home but there's never been any dash lights on or smelled hot nothing to indicate it's overheated. So, I guess, I paid $328.00 for a new starter I didn't need one. My car did idle fast but no, it's stalled yet while I'm driving and hope it never does. It did one time a couple of years ago at the red light in Boones Creek, but I never heard it quit. A police officer helped me to push it off the road and lock it and gave the business where we used it and gave the keys to give tow truck when they had time to come and pick it up. They said it was the main timing belt and with parts and labor it was over $400.00 for a new timing belt. I'm not taking my car back there I think they weren't being honest me after reading that most vehicles will start both in park and neutral, so why tell me it was the neutral switch and I need to get a new one and that it would only take about an hour and take about 30 when they knew they'd just had put a new starter, plugs and wires on my car. Doesn't a garage carry one those thingy tools most of the time to test it? The main timing belt cost almost $400 not counting labor. Would the odmometer they use to test a car at most auto parts stores for free tell if it's the crankshaft or camshaft sensor?
Again, thank you for all of your help
I really appreciate it.
Thanks again, Trudy Yates

I replied to your message above but dummy me didn't send it. There is no tachometer in my car and if the problem is because of the crankshaft sensor being bad that would clear up why it's always started from home but then when I start to go back home it might start and it might not. I never know because it's not every single time. Yesterday when I went to the bank started like it usually does and when I tried to start it again it was fine, and I went to Ingles and then when I came out to go back home it didn't start so I tried it in neutral again but this time it didn't start in neutral either, so I put it back into park and it started. When I got back home and pulled up to back in because my parking is almost too narrow when everyone is home, I can't pull up to back in because I'm not good at judging how close I am, and I didn't back up far enough and didn't notice until I got out. I quit trying to back in for a while but later when I went back outside to start my car to back up more it started fine so it's starting fine when the engine is cool but after it's warm from driving it, it doesn't want to start again. Crankshaft sensors aren't cheap and there'll also be labor included again. Idk what to do right now with my landlord selling this property last week and not letting any of us know what he was planning to do was wrong and the new owners are raising the rent almost $200.00 telling us they had to raise our rent to meet the market value. I understand all that but good lord almost $200.00 with no warning is not right in my opinion. Oh well shouldn't be surprised since everything else is getting higher also. It's a crazy world we live in today.

I don't know if I want to do this but then again, I've already learned all the parts and what each one does or is supposed to do and the prices. I know more than I ever have or ever wanted to and that's the reason a light went off when the guy that said it was my starter, plugs and wires and that didn't take care of it when. He kept texting me and calling me saying it was the neutral switch and that he could order it and do it the next day in less than an hour just because I told him when it wouldn't start I tried it in neutral and it started but I know most of the time cars will start in both park and neutral anyway and that I just paid to put a new starter on my car so it should be fine, but everything I've read and what you said if the starter is working it's not the neutral switch I started questioning if he was genuinely trying to help or just trying to take advantage of me because I'm a woman and most women do not know that much about the mechanical parts of our vehicles. That's sad but true so I didn't take my car back to him. He sent me another text yesterday after I had just told him on Thursday that I wasn't going to do anything else about my car until I knew more about whether or not I was going to have to move too.

Hi Joe, this is Trudy. Sorry it's been crazy here but finally got good news about my apartment. My caseworker worker with Section 8 and he said that they'd already had this conversation with the new owner. When they signed a contract with Section 8 they agreed to abide by their guidelines, and they could not raise my rent. The only one that can do that is them and it would never be $200.00 more. Whenever there's a cost of living increase my part of the rent goes up a little, maybe $5.00, but it always balances out the difference so no big deal. I think we all deserved a little notice of the upcoming changes but from what I understand legally my landlord didn't have to let anyone know and any management can raise the rent for whatever they choose, there's no guideline which I think is a little scary but not surprising with all the price increases on gas and everything else since the pandemic started.
My car is doing the same, it might do fine for a couple of days then the same thing, starts from home but not when I get back in it to go home and sometimes putting it in neutral helps but not always. I'm trying to save enough to pay for fixing it and have filled out a couple of applications for emergency funds for car repairs through the DHS office in Washington County TN so someone from my church is helping when I need to go anywhere.
It's a waiting game and with my anxiety, panic and OCD issues that's not been easy to do, lol.
Anyway, if I don't hear anything soon, I may try it myself and that scares me because with my luck I'll probably end up making it worse but on the other hand not much worse than just sitting here.
Again, thank you for your patience and time helping the crazy neurotic woman. Actually, typing out all of this has helped make things easier.

Hey Joe,

Thanks for sharing about your wife. My car problems are nothing in comparison to what you and your wife have been going through.

Both my stepbrother and my son had cancer. One had testicular cancer and my son had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Both have been cancer free for over 20 years. Chemo and radiation help but, both have lifetime long term effect some not so good. I know I have trust issues which have made it harder for me to put my faith into anyone or anything but with baby steps and church family it's getting easier. Anyway, you and your wife are always in my thoughts and prayers. Again, thank you for sharing.

Trudy

Prayers, 98 Ford Escort LX and my fur baby Buddy with his little playdate Shelley. I dog sit for people at my church and Buddy loves them as much as I enjoy having and watching them.

Hi Joe,

I replied to your message but can't tell if it sent or not so you may get a couple of the same ones and I'm sorry.
Anyway, I found a coupon on Firestones website for $9.95 that will cover checking everything and then providing me with a printout of their findings if anything and help me to find the cheapest most reliable place to take my car to. Beginning to feel like this was too good to be true, so I don't know? My first appt was for Saturday but as I was walking out the door they called to reschedule, and I did it was for today at 12:00pm. But, at 11:00 they called to cancel again and wanted me to reschedule again but it's beginning to feel like it was too good to be true. I don't know, but not doing this over and over again, because they don't understand what it's doing to me because I have no off switch in my brain/mind and can't just let it go.
Okay, so I order the part from Rocketpro and attach the code you attached?
Attaching a couple more video's/photo's of Buddy and his playdates. Sorry no matter what I tried to do I couldn't remove the duplicate videos and or photos.