Stang94GT

I just bought this car so if you need history in answering this question I'll do my best.



My car has stopped cranking recently. When I turn the key to "run" the ABS light (4W ABS, leftmost light) stays on. When I turn the key further to crank, I get nothing. This only started happening recently - since then, I haven't been able to crank (push starting).



If the engine is running and I try to crank it, I get the ABS light. All my knowledge is with piston engines, but if you try to crank it with the motor running you hear a terrible grinding noise.



Anyone have any idea why my engine has stopped cranking?



Thanks!

jspecracer7

Ummm...that terrible grinding noise when you try to start it with the engine on is the gears on the starter GRINDING on the flywheel teeth...STOP DOING THIS...unless you want to buy a new starter.



Did you check your battery to see if it was properly grounded? How new is the battery?

Stang94GT

Yeah - that's what I was looking for. There was no grinding sound at all. Battery seems find.. don't know how old it is but all the connections look good. With the motor off I have all accessories operational.



I tried cranking it with the engine on to see if i could get a response from the starter - nope. Is there any type of key on/key off test you can run with these cars to pull any fault codes? Is it normal for the abs light to stay on when you turn the key to run and leave it in that position without cranking?

Stang94GT

Okay - more info. I just stepped into the car and noticed that when the key is left in the run position, before cranking, my exhaust overheat warning light is on as well. I know the previous owner took the interior apart and painted it up.... i'm guessing the wiring got fubar'd when he put it back together again. It was running just fine yesterday - when i picked the car up!!!

rfreeman27

um when i am in "run" position with the motor off all my lights come on

Stang94GT

They all come on and STAY on? The lights that are staying on right now are; ABS battery, and exhaust overheat. I just accidentally set off the alarm and I'm betting that the security light comes on and stays on until the engine is started up again - and that the exhaust overheat and security lights on my car are mixed up. Now I'm trying to figure out why the abs and battery light stay on. I can understand the battery light being on (normal on my mustang as well). But the two lights that stay on on my mustang are the check engine and battery - until the car starts that is. I just assumed it was the same as on the 7. Tomorrow morning I'm going check the starter and see if it's properly wired/grounded. Any other ideas?

rfreeman27

oh no they dont stay on, i forgot that you are push starting the car.

Stang94GT

Okay... couldn't sleep so I went out and monkeyed with the center console. As far as I can tell these are all the warning lights .. (4W ABS / nothing / Air bag) <steering wheel> (Charge / Ebrake / High Beams) <-- does this seem correct? What's in that 2nd from the left location, on the left hand side?



I also checked the wiring for the exhaust warning light - nope, the two lights were not mixed up. When I locked my car I could see the security light momentarily flash on, so I assume that is normal. I also figured out why my defroster wasn't working - the harness was plugged into the middle EMPTY switch ... hmm...



I guess this is my welcome to the FD ... The car ran perfect when I picked it up, it was inspected by Maz-Max and everything was healthy. <sigh> ...

Leetheslacker

So theres no grinding when you try to start it while its running?



Sounds like a bad starteror starter switch thingy or somethign.

Stang94GT

Phew... RFREEMAN was able to help me out. Looks like those lights staying on are normal. I'm going to pull the starter tomorrow and feed it some 12v, see what it does. Now I can at least sleep for the night...