Nephew's 2008 Escape has developed several problems - virtually at the same time. Intermittently the starter will not crank. Might start on the second try, or the sixth. Could be a range selector switch - but have not been able to pin it down. It's not the starter - he took it to a garage complaining of the starting problem when it was in to have the throttle cable replaced. They replaced the starter at a cost of $400. Still has the starting problem. Now the headlights pulse when he is at a stop - not sure if they pulse on the road or not - and it is intermittent. Add to these 2, the powertrain light (the yellow wrench) comes on accaiaionally when driving. The flashing lights and the "wrench" lite have only become apparent since the starter was replaced A month ago the ABD/Traction control light occaisionally came on and he had noise in the front suspension - had a bad left outer tie rod end. It was replaced and the ABS traction control issue is gone.
This thing is totally computer controlled from what I have determined. The HL switch tells the computer to turn the headlights on. Turning the key tells the computer to engage the starter - which cranks untill it starts.
Do we have a bad CPU or somrthing like that?????