clewis0316

My wife's 2005 Mustang would not start this morning. Every thing works, lights, gauges, windows, alarms. When you turn the key on to start it the starter never kicks in to start. There is not even the sound of the relay to kick it in.

99GTvert

This is for the 4.0, right? (I moved it here from FIF based off of your post history)

Nuke

Original battery? Original alternator? Both suck from the factory. It's possible that there is sufficient capacity to light dash lights but not enough to crank the starter. This is quite common with the S197 charging system.

Do the lights dim when you turn the key to try to crank the engine or blow the horn? If so, it's almost surely the battery, which would also mean you should consider a PA Performance alternator and NOT a Ford new or rebuilt unit.

If the lights DON'T dim, then you likely have another issue going on.

CORPORAL

Check for any codes but my guess would be crank sensor.

Boneman

Another thing to check... you don't mention if it's manual or automatic....

If it's auto trans, possibly the neutral safety switch is hanging up...

If manual, could be the switch on the clutch.... I don't know the technical term but it's the one that forces you to push the pedal all the way down before it will engage the starter.

Just a couple of other possibilities that may be a bit easier and more economical to rectify.

Nuke

As another possibility, I think that if the key loses it's programming (damned electronic keys...) the engine won't crank or will crank but not fire.

Boneman

Another case of superfluous electronic B.S. making our lives ever more miserable.

bradentoncissy

It is getting power and will start after turning key many times. After researching, it might be neutral safety switch. Where is this?

bradentoncissy

I have all power but it wont start. After researching I think it might be the neutral safety switch but I cant find this part. Can you tell me where it is located?

tx_zstang

manual or auto?
Manual is located on the clutch pedal.
Auto is the shifter itself; try it in neutral in addition to park. My stock shifter on my 05 broke so that it wouldn't work properly in park.