1. Home
  2. General Ford Forum
  3. Intermittent Starting - 99 Mercury Sable

Intermittent Starting - 99 Mercury Sable

Greetings!

1999 Mercury Sable wagon - 168,000 miles

Sometimes after running the car around town, I return to the car, only to n ot be able to start it. I turn the key, all dash lights are on - no crank, no start, nothing. I hear the fuel pump charge, but that's it.

Battery is good. Switched relays in the Power Junction Box - no difference. Replaced the neutral safety switch (transmission range sensor, etc.), but now I'm wondering if that NSS was bad? Tried starting in other gears (it ac tually has the same symptoms as trying to start in other gears). Starting i n neutral is the same problem. Turn the key, and nothing. The NSS is tight, and like I said, will start fine, cold.

Checked the red wire from the battery (thru the Power Junction box) to the solenoid's primary power post - no juice when the car is acting up.

Seems if I let the car sit for 10 or 15 mins, it will start. I've heard peo ple talk of an immobilizer, and the vehicle theft system, but I don't know the symptoms of those devices. Would they cause the engine *not* to crank?

Often, to force a start, I will pull back on the spring-loaded gear shift l ever (column shift), and release it while the key is turned to START positi on. I may have to do it 10 or even 20 times, but eventually it starts. I fo und this out by trial and error.

Again - to summarize:

Checked battery Starter (didn't go into detail, but checked the solenoid, and starter) Replaced Neutral Safety Switch Swapped relays in the Power Junction box (broken wire? how to check) Oh, and replaced the Ignition Switch Block

I would like to bypass the NSS to see if that makes any difference. Anyone know what pin(holes) to jump to do that? Or how to find it out?

Thanks for taking a look!

Reply to
goldenhound104
Loading thread data ...

From past experience with Fords of that era I would strongly suspect the ignition switch or the connector between the ignition switch and the main harness. Not an uncommon problem. Look for dis-colored plugs or dull solder on back of switch.

Reply to
clare

o not be able to start it. I turn the key, all dash lights are on - no cran k, no start, nothing. I hear the fuel pump charge, but that's it.

ce. Replaced the neutral safety switch (transmission range sensor, etc.), b ut now I'm wondering if that NSS was bad? Tried starting in other gears (it actually has the same symptoms as trying to start in other gears). Startin g in neutral is the same problem. Turn the key, and nothing. The NSS is tig ht, and like I said, will start fine, cold.

he solenoid's primary power post - no juice when the car is acting up.

people talk of an immobilizer, and the vehicle theft system, but I don't kn ow the symptoms of those devices. Would they cause the engine *not* to cran k?

t lever (column shift), and release it while the key is turned to START pos ition. I may have to do it 10 or even 20 times, but eventually it starts. I found this out by trial and error.

ne know what pin(holes) to jump to do that? Or how to find it out?

Thanks for the advice. I pulled the cover off the steering column, and loo ked around the wiring, but it looks like I'm going to have to figure out ho w to remove the plastic mount that the wires are go into.

Reply to
goldenhound104

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.