92cobra

it doesnt make sense though to be the battery. I mean, if i put the key in, and everything is fine, and then when i start it i lose all power, why would it be the battery?

redmustang83596

Because when you turn it to accessory, your only drawing power from little things like the fan, and radio. A starter draws close to 200 amps, which is a lot more than anything else on the car. Thats enough draw on the battery to drain it down to nothing. Get a multimeter, set it to DC volts, and check how much voltage the battery has before cranking, and then how much while cranking, then how much after cranking. If your battery drops below 9.6v while trying to crank, your battery is shot.

92cobra

alright thanks man. I can get a volt meter at walmart for pretty cheap cant i?

92cobra

couldnt i also just take the battery to autozone and have it tested?

redmustang83596

Yeah autozone would be easier.. multmeters are like $25 at walmart and are a VERY useful tool when diagnosing electrical problems

92cobra

great i will just take my battery out then and run it down to autozone and have them test it. IM almost completely broke until friday and then i still wont have much lol.

getafewlives

if your batteries fine you can try bypassing the salenoid and starting the car. when i was checking out a mustang a mechanic showed me this. put your key to the on position, but dont start the car. then pop the hood. On the right fender inside is a thingamajiggy. (in the pic). There should be like 3 prong things sticking out of it (hard to describe). and one has a boot on it. Pop the boot off and take a screwdriver and touch it on the one that had a boot on it and one of the other 2, (cant remember which one) and it will turn the engine over. (if the powers on the engine should fire right up)

[IMG]local://upfiles/37075/44F5810CBA3343A086F22F894D1A4F29.jpg[/IMG]

92cobra

thanks mate, but hopefully it wont come to that lol

redmustang83596

Yeah, ford has style of starter where the solenoid isnt on the starter. That thingamajiggy is the solenoid. The one with the boot on it is the 'S' (or solenoid) terminal. Then you have a 'B' (or battery) terminal which has a constant 12v from the battery. The S terminal connects from the solenoid to the battery. When the solenoid is energized, it pulls a plunger closed and connects the B and S terminals. If you jumper from B to S and it starts, then its a solenoid problem. Thats the easiest way to test if it is a solenoid problem.

92cobra

great thanks, cant do much tell im off work at 7am, but i will start trouble shooting then.