Thank you, I've got further into this and found some good stuff that may help others
-The starter relay is fed a live and a ground by 2 sperate circuits
The live circuit goes through the ignition and switch on the transmission that ensures the car is in park or neutral. If either of then are bad...
Have you checked your battery and cables- the ground to the body and the live to the starter? A quick way is to use a jumper cable(s) in addition to the cars cables and if the problem goes away then you have a bad cable. I had a ground cable once that looked find but when I took it off the car...
Here is the bundle of wires that went to my MAP sensor and got wrapped around the alternator pulley. Pretty terminal.
Since the above plea and update, I have been to a junkyard to get a replacement section of loom off a scrap car and soldered it in. I've also replaced the water pump and got...
Thank you for your reply. I think I've solved the mystery as even though I ordered the parts I needed the car for one last trip before they arrived. The water pump seized, shredding the belt, damaging the wiring to the MAF sensor (wrapped around the alternator pulley). its very clear now the...
Would welcome wisdom to guide me
Symptom is a nasty intermittent knock/grinding noise on 2001 4.0 Sport Trac
I replaced the idler pulley and the tensioner. Bearings on both were not special, so no regrets on that, but it hasn't solved the problem.
I've put an ear against a long screwdriver...
For the record, in case anyone else has a shake another resource, this video is a very useful guide to diagnosis along the same lines as what DAM Sport Trac has written
I use Dan's Precision Alignment in Encinitas. However he charges $100 for the job. I got the "you need a camber kit" speech from a different shop before that. I just put it on myself, on the wrong side and then put another one on myself on the right side. Dan did it all up and now the alignment...
If I followed tha mechanics logic then the alternator has fried the battery, so I would try a different one that is charged. if that doesnt fix it, then I am not sure how a faulty alternator would give those symptoms.
That could be why your previous battery needed replacing too?
My money is on the door latch, the part inside the door. You have to take off the trim and plastic sheet to get at it. When you take it off you will note how fabulously complex it is, I think there are 5/6 different physical connections to it, and an electrical connection. When I bought my ST...
Doors are designed in such a way that there is an expectation that water will get in. That is why there is that sheet of plastic behind the trim, to separate the (potentially) wet inside of the door from teh trim and the cabin. Any water that gets in, should find its way out so if there is water...
Next time try rocking the steering wheel. The steering lock somehow puts pressures in the very thing that unlocks it (the ignition key), maybe if the tires are up against a kurb. I had a paniced call from my wife about this once, told her to try and turn the key with one hand and rock the...
240K, in California. The underside still looks new. I've only had it from 215k, but I'm changing the oil every 3000 with Motorcraft stuff, hope it keeps on going. I'm enthused by some of the high numbers people are quoting!