Questions and Answers

Ford Windstar No Start Q. Dear Vincent, I am writing to ask whether you have any advice about a problem with our 1998 Ford Windstar (has about 46,000 km, automatic transmission, A/C, fuel injection, ABS brakes, I don't know the engine size, probably 3.0 liter). The problem developed in the last two to three months: it sometimes does not want to start and this happens quite randomly.

On occasion, I am able to make it start but shifting into neutral while pressing the brake pedal and turning the ignition on, but this morning, for example, the trick didn't work.

We asked the dealer to disengage the alarm system when they suggested that the alarm was causing this, and although they claim to have done so, the alarm light turns itself on and off all the time. We even had the car towed to an alarm specialist who spent 45 minutes working on it and assures us that the alarm is disconnected.

Perhaps the problem is related to something else? I spent all day looking for answers on various web sites and I have found all sorts of possibilities, such as:

1. One of the car computers needs repair or resetting.
2. The fuel gauge in the fuel pump might not be the correct size and so it fools the car into thinking it has no gas.
3. The alarm system was installed badly by tapping into wires it shouldn't be connected to.

I don't know how to explain all of these possibilities to a mechanic at our dealership, so any advice you have would be appreciated.

Kind regards,
Militsa

A. Well Militsa, number one is possible. Number two we can throw out and number three is a good possibility, especially if it is an aftermarket alarm system.

The first thing we need to do is determine if this is just a simple starter motor failure. When it won't start, there is a small push on connector on the starter. With the key in the START position, there should be power there. If there is and the starter doesn't turn, you have a bad starter.

However, your statement "I am able to make it start but shifting into neutral while pressing the brake pedal and turning the ignition on" would make me think that the Neutral Safety Switch (NSS) is in all likelihood, gone bad.