'94 Cougar won't start...

callaway · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:07 pm

Went out this morning to start the car and it wouldn't turn over. It didn't get that cold last night ( we did get light frost ) and the car was last driven two days ago. I was running late and made a mental note to try jump starting it when I got home and left it at that.

Just tried jump starting and no luck - The car clicks like it wants to turn over but nothing happens.
I tried swapping the battery with the one from the KJ and no luck there either.

Any ideas whats up here?

rangerd77 · **Joined:** Sat May 03, 2008 10:48 am **Posts:** 512

yeah you might need a starting cylinoid, but why is this in here? put it in here and just label it '94 Cougar 4X4!!!!

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:53 pm

Did you jump the solienoid with a screw driver yet?

callaway · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2008 4:15 pm

yellocoyote wrote:

Does it just click, or does it start first and then die?

only clicks

sleeve84028 wrote:

Did you jump the solienoid with a screw driver yet?

how do I do that?

jeepmedic46 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2008 5:57 pm

Sounds like the alternator

callaway · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:13 pm

so then I'm left towing it to a mechanic?

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Thu Nov 27, 2008 2:49 am

ok, so it could be one of a few things. If the car just clicks and the motor doesn't turn over, it is a fault in the starting circuit. This fault could be the starter, the key switch, relay, and on and on. the easiest way to test the starts is to get a voltage meter and a helper. while the helper is holding the key in to the start position, put the red lead on the the small gauge wire that connects to the solenoid and the black one to ground. If the reading is between 12.2 and 12.8 volts dc, you know that is is the starter, if not, you have a problem else where

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Nov 27, 2008 12:11 pm

If youve took the battery out of your Jeep and it still clicked then its not the alternator. If it started, ran for awhile, lights got dim, then died, I would think it was an alternator.

Since it clicks the the key switch seems to be ok. Beat on the starter with a big wrench or hammer if you can get to it and see what happens. The brushings in the starter get dirty and stick.

Im not sure if the solenoid would click if the brushings were sticking though. It should just kick in and stay kicked in till you let off the key.

Check all grounds and connections going to the starter. Do the terminals at the battery look good?

Could be a bad solenoid and not a starter.. This is probably the case.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Thu Nov 27, 2008 1:09 pm

The solenoid is a big electromagnet that does 2 things - it pulls a lever that pushes the starter teeth into the ring gear and it connects the battery voltage direct to the starter.
If you're hearing the click - it normally means the solenoid it pulling the lever.
if you're not hearing the whir of the starter motor spinning in empty air - then the starter's not turning.

I'd bet starter - however when you replace them - they normally come with a new/rebuilt solenoid - so you do both at the same time.

callaway · **Posted:** Thu Nov 27, 2008 1:36 pm

I'm going to go out and try knocking the starter and see if that does anything.

Thanks for the info

callaway · **Posted:** Thu Nov 27, 2008 2:28 pm

the started is buried on the lower part of the engine behind the front passenger wheel... this is going to have to wait till tomorrow

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 1:35 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

If youve took the battery out of your Jeep and it still clicked then its not the alternator. If it started, ran for awhile, lights got dim, then died, I would think it was an alternator.

Since it clicks the the key switch seems to be ok. Beat on the starter with a big wrench or hammer if you can get to it and see what happens.

If you don't know for a fact that it's the starter, don't go beating on it.

Being a Ford product, I'm banking on the solenoid, myself. It should be on the firewall or on top of one of the wheelwells.

If you beat the starter, it can break something. If you break something, you have to buy a starter, where you might not have had to before.

Funny story:

Back in high school, a friend of mine had an '88 Pontiac Bonneville. It wouldn't start, so he called me...sounded like a starter issue. He had a hammer in his car (don't ask why) so I told him to give the starter a couple good whacks. He did, tried to start the car, and it still wouldn't start. So, I went to him, and looked at the car.

I got there and opened the hood...and saw a TON of big marks on the alternator from the hammer
"Jim, what the F did you go knock the crap out of THAT for?" "You told me to hit the starter!"

callaway · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:54 am

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

Being a Ford product, I'm banking on the solenoid, myself. It should be on the firewall or on top of one of the wheelwells.

from what the internet's told me the starter/solenoid combo is hidden on the lower part of the engine near the passenger wheel... jacked the car up today and didn't have a clear view of much of anything from underneath...

Is it something so obvious ( like on the firewall or on top the wheel well as you say ) that I'm just missing it?

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Mon Dec 01, 2008 3:10 pm

catnip?

callaway · **Posted:** Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:59 pm

Alas, the design of the cougar is not garage mechanic friendly

The car was towed to the mechanic where it was confirmed that the started was shot.
$295 installed and we'll have it back Wednesday =/

'94 Cougar won't start...

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