dead 2002 mercury sable 6 cly

[roger]

2002 mercury sable 6 cly ever once in a while when i turn ign off it sounds like the battery is dieing,after a few trys it will start right up
like nothin happened,friday it did it twice,the ecound time i was stuck for an hour i kept trying it,and then it started right up.2 days later
i went for a short ride,i came back parked the car and came back an hour later to go some ware,it was dead,no clickin,no nothin,i put the head light on nice and bright,dash light were on but car was dead wouldn,t turn over,could it be the starter?thanks

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[Garson]

Hi roger6632!I had a landrover freelander with the same problem like you have and after i change the starter the car was alive again ;).I thing it was only the solenoid that was broken but i had put a new starter just to be sure. You can also check the cables that goes to the starter for bad connections.

[Wyr Twister]

I would think you need to diagnose if the fault is in the 12 VDC power circuit or the control circuit .

http://www.rockauto.com/info/333/336-1934A_Alternate1__ra_p.jpg

Looks like the starter solenoid that switches the 12 VDC power is mase on the starter .

See if you have a large / fat positive cable from the battery to the top terminal of the solenoid & a small wire going to the ” side terminal ” . That would be the ” control wire ” that causes the solenoid to ” pull in ” , powering the starter motor .

This is easiest to diagnose when the starter is not working . With a helper turning the key to ” start ” see if you are getting 12 VDC to the control wire / terminal . Also 12 VDC on the power cable / terminal .

You may also need to do a visual inspection on both wires , from the starter . All the way to the battery on the power wire & as far as you can on the control wire .

I think you said the headlights work , when you have a no start ? That is good info to know . It tells you the battery & battery cable clamps most likely are OK .

Report back with what you find out .

Best of luck . 🙂
Wyr
God bless

[Author]

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