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April 14, 2006
BUFFALO JIM: NUTS & BOLTS
I recently bought a 1994 Ford Thunderbird. I had no problems with this car for the first few weeks, but now it won't start. The engine won't even turn over when I turn the key, like the battery is dead. However, the battery is new. Also, the battery cables seem to be connected properly to the battery itself. Does this mean the problem is somewhere in the ignition? HECTOR GARCIA It's more likely that the trouble is down near the floor, bro. You were starting this car fine for a few weeks, so you already know that on a '94 T-bird, you have to be pressing the brake pedal down in order to fire it up. That's because they put a switch in the pedal that gives power to the starter. Some vehicles have it in the brake, some have it in the clutch pedal, but it's the same principle. I'm guessing this switch has gone bad and needs to be replaced. The thing is, you can't be sure of that yet, so I'll tell you a few things about how to troubleshoot a basic starting problem like the one you're having. Whether you're driving a T-Bird or something else, you need to begin with the battery. Have it checked to make sure it's actually carrying a charge. Next, make sure there's nothing drawing energy off the battery when it should be resting. With the car off and the doors closed, you or a mechanic can disconnect the battery cable from the positive terminal and put a volt meter between these two parts in order to easily tell if there's any power drain still happening that shouldn't be. If the battery is charged and there's nothing drawing from it, it's time to have the starter itself checked. If it does turn out that the starter itself has gone bad, it's a good idea to check the health of the car's charging system. When the car's running, the battery should get anywhere between 13.8 and 14.2 volts from the alternator. Anything less means undercharging, which means low amperage from the battery, which means excessive heat, and heat tends to burn out starters. Like I said, bro, it's most likely the brake switch that's at fault. But if it's not, now you have a few more suspects in the lineup. Buffalo Jim, owner of Allstate Auto & Marine Repair in Las Vegas, writes a weekly column. Send your automotive questions to him at buffalojim@pahrumpvalleytimes.com. Jim would like to take a moment to remember his mother, Toulla Barrier, who died last week at age 86. She was known both for her endless charity and for being a bat-wielding bouncer at 72. Like mother, like son. |
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