1994 Crown Vic shit the bed

[87DeuceVic]

My 94 just shit the bed the day before thanksgiving. I took my mom out to do some grocery shopping in it and we go into the store and come back out, I turn the key and......nothing. DAMMIT!!! I had it flatbedded to my house, about a 15 mile ride, cost me $80. I am pretty sure its the starter solenoid as it makes no sound when I turn the key. Luckily I have most of the week off so me and my old man will be starting into it soon. Anyone have any other ideas of what it might be?

[Lincolnmania]

is the battery fully charged?

[87DeuceVic]

yea, everything comes on when I turn the key and when I try to crank it nothing dims. So its probably not the battery.

[Lincolnmania]

check the wire at the solenoid on the starter and make sure it is connected........the early versions of that starter had a push on connector for the solenoid that falls apart

[Pirate]

...and if that doesn't work, try starting it in 'N'.

[79lincolnlover]

Bad sending-unit or dead fuel-pump?

[Spaz]

i had a similar issue on my 1994 Grand Marquis LS last wednesday, turns out my shifter is out of whack and once i pushed it farther up into "P"ark it cranked right up. ECU probly doesnt like starting with the electronic trans in reverse or something

[WilliamFredrickson]

Yeah, that happens to me sometimes too. Just wiggle the shifter up around park, a little up or down, until you feel it get some resistance, and then give it a shot and turn the key. It might work?

[87DeuceVic]

Bad sending-unit or dead fuel-pump?

Not that because it would crank, and it doesnt. I will try the shifter thing, I did wiggle it in park and nothing happened, but I will put it in neutral and see if she fires. I will be pissed if it does, becuase I paid to have it flatbedded for nothing.

[87DeuceVic]

Well I held the key down and jiggled the shifter and what do ya know........VROOOOM. She fired right up. Its never done this before. But now I know that if it does just play with the shifter. I am probably going to take it to ford and have them fix it soon.

[SVT98t]

It happens. I had the same problem you had. Except i paid $130 to have it flatbedded to my house to have it start up after he dropped it off the bed. F*&%.
Atleast it's working!
-ryan s.

[87DeuceVic]

Well I thought this issue was the neutral safety switch, so I replaced it and it fired right up about 2 times.......then what do ya know its still not starting. WTF I am getting very very frustrated at this car. I dont know what it is, my old man said the starter could be getting stuck. A new starter is like $110...... Does anyone have ANY ideas or words of wisdom. Seems how my money is limited this will probably be put off for a couple weeks, but in the mean time I hope to at least figure out the issue.

[seneeb]

starter/solenoid could very well have a bad spot in em. did you try waving a rubber chicken at it? no ok then

i'd say just gimme the car, i'll make a good home for it

(seriously tho, starter could be going pooched, also trans range switch [aka neutral safety switch] could need realigned)

[gadget73]

Crudded up wiring at the starter can do this. Theres a skinny wire with a push-on terminal down there. If thats corroded, it won't crank.

[87DeuceVic]

Well me and the old man cleaned up the wires and for the last week it has been fine. Looks like problem solved....now I jinxed myself lol.