Having a crank issue with completely stock 03 (video included)...
So recently the 03 has had an issue cranking. I'll provide lots of observed information and some of it may or may not be relevant but the more info the better I hope. There will be some speculation inserted where appropriate.
Past:
The first few times I noticed it a couple of weeks ago. During turning the key it would just make a loud click. After 2-3 ignition attempts it would start up easy whether cold/warm but eventually had the following symptoms after even 20x attempts: Click on ignition (but only sometimes). When turning the key, I looked carefully at the dash and it would light up (but only sometimes). Otherwise, I wouldn't even get the dash to light up or even a click when moving from accessory to ignition. Between ignition attempts, I would remove the key entirely. Additionally I could still get the accessories to still light up sometimes even if the accessories didn't light up in the previous ignition attempt. However the headlights would be dim in either case. Did not check battery voltage this time as didn't have tester with me. Ultimately the lack of headlights lead me to think the battery. Had car towed (position of car made jumping battery unfeasable) and with a test from nearby Ford dealership, the battery had a bad cell. Battery was about 4 years old and replacement made sense anyway. Battery replaced at Ford dealership, car started right up. No problems for about another week...
Present:
Then the no start/no turnover issue with just click came back in ~10 days with a couple of short driving sessions which went fine in that time. Exact same symptoms now though did an extra test: I had someone to help and put a voltmeter on the terminals with ignition off/accessory/crank attempts with everything well in the green in each phase for 12V. I'm thinking the battery was just a part of the picture now. Battery still shows adequate voltage at all times on voltometer but won't crank. Lights are very dim now so again battery is drained but it's brand new from dealership. This time around the battery was jumped (it did take about ~3 tries to get it to start and first attempt was after a couple of minutes of jumper car running). Helper this time claimed on last attempt that he pushed down on negative jumper end (not sure if relevant but posting incase it suggests connection issue though could be coincidental).
<Amateur speculation time>
1.) Maybe possible power draw when car is not running. 2.) Alternator may be on the way out which would explain why it drove fine for a little over a week until no start. 3.) Bad electrical connections somewhere / bad grounding. 4.) Starter solenoid going out. 5.) Something worse :O 6.) Your input of item(s) listed or other.
Car is at dealership again but won't be seen for a couple of days as 'Stang specialist isn't in. Didn't remember to check fuses so I can't comment on them. If you have additional questions or the info seems ambiguous, post below. Link to video. Ignore the part where I comment on hot/cold start as it happened even on a cold start:
https://youtu.be/rt49UiPaVaU
So recently the 03 has had an issue cranking. I'll provide lots of observed information and some of it may or may not be relevant but the more info the better I hope. There will be some speculation inserted where appropriate.
Past:
The first few times I noticed it a couple of weeks ago. During turning the key it would just make a loud click. After 2-3 ignition attempts it would start up easy whether cold/warm but eventually had the following symptoms after even 20x attempts: Click on ignition (but only sometimes). When turning the key, I looked carefully at the dash and it would light up (but only sometimes). Otherwise, I wouldn't even get the dash to light up or even a click when moving from accessory to ignition. Between ignition attempts, I would remove the key entirely. Additionally I could still get the accessories to still light up sometimes even if the accessories didn't light up in the previous ignition attempt. However the headlights would be dim in either case. Did not check battery voltage this time as didn't have tester with me. Ultimately the lack of headlights lead me to think the battery. Had car towed (position of car made jumping battery unfeasable) and with a test from nearby Ford dealership, the battery had a bad cell. Battery was about 4 years old and replacement made sense anyway. Battery replaced at Ford dealership, car started right up. No problems for about another week...
Present:
Then the no start/no turnover issue with just click came back in ~10 days with a couple of short driving sessions which went fine in that time. Exact same symptoms now though did an extra test: I had someone to help and put a voltmeter on the terminals with ignition off/accessory/crank attempts with everything well in the green in each phase for 12V. I'm thinking the battery was just a part of the picture now. Battery still shows adequate voltage at all times on voltometer but won't crank. Lights are very dim now so again battery is drained but it's brand new from dealership. This time around the battery was jumped (it did take about ~3 tries to get it to start and first attempt was after a couple of minutes of jumper car running). Helper this time claimed on last attempt that he pushed down on negative jumper end (not sure if relevant but posting incase it suggests connection issue though could be coincidental).
<Amateur speculation time>
1.) Maybe possible power draw when car is not running. 2.) Alternator may be on the way out which would explain why it drove fine for a little over a week until no start. 3.) Bad electrical connections somewhere / bad grounding. 4.) Starter solenoid going out. 5.) Something worse :O 6.) Your input of item(s) listed or other.
Car is at dealership again but won't be seen for a couple of days as 'Stang specialist isn't in. Didn't remember to check fuses so I can't comment on them. If you have additional questions or the info seems ambiguous, post below. Link to video. Ignore the part where I comment on hot/cold start as it happened even on a cold start:
https://youtu.be/rt49UiPaVaU
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