The Escape wouldn't start one day randomly. I tested the battery and it was 12.2 Volts, but the car had been sitting for a few days. I jumped it and it started fine. Ran fine for a month or so. Then one day two weeks ago it wouldn't start again. Checked battery and it was 12.2v again. But this time it wouldn't start even when being jumped. The next day I tried to start it again and it started right up and ran fine for two weeks. Battery comes in at 12.6 after driving so alternator and battery are fine right? All the connections seem fine but took them off and cleaned them with contact cleaner anyway. It won't start, won't start when being jumped right away. I feel like it's not the jumping that starts it but it's the jumping that allows the battery to stay strong enough to keep trying. I can clearly hear the starter, it's not just clicking but the engine isn't trying to turn over. The only noise comes from the starter. What would cause intermittent starting problems like this? The harness seems fine, no blown fuses. Goes weeks starting and running perfectly fine. Then bam, one day it won't start. I just want to see if it's a easy fix before going and getting ripped off at shop.

 

One afternoon, the Escape would not start...looked like a totally dead battery, which didn't make sense... Put it on the charger for a couple of hours, then drove it 30 miles and everything seemed fine.
Several days later, the car would not start again, however, this time there was lights on the dashboard. The starter would not operate. Wife randomly tried using the remote start....worked perfectly.
I'm baffled !

 

One afternoon, the Escape would not start...looked like a totally dead battery, which didn't make sense... Put it on the charger for a couple of hours, then drove it 30 miles and everything seemed fine.
Several days later, the car would not start again, however, this time there was lights on the dashboard. The starter would not operate. Wife randomly tried using the remote start....worked perfectly.
I'm baffled !

 

One afternoon, the Escape would not start...looked like a totally dead battery, which didn't make sense... Put it on the charger for a couple of hours, then drove it 30 miles and everything seemed fine.
Several days later, the car would not start again, however, this time there was lights on the dashboard. The starter would not operate. Wife randomly tried using the remote start....worked perfectly.
I'm baffled !

 

There is something going on with the authorization from the key that is not required with the remote start.

You should have another working key, try that other key when it will not start. If it starts fine using that second key, you might want to get another key made and coded to get around this problem.

Once you have 2 working keys, you can program up to 8 keys yourself. Maybe want to give this some thought.

 

Lets be clear, when you have the issue, is this

1. A crank, no start, or
2. a no crank

 

No Crank...very much like a dead battery

 

If it works fine with the remote start , it can't be a dead battery or anything involving the starting system other than the security system not allowing it to start.

 

Next questions,

1. does it start with the remote every time ?
2. Using the key do you see any lights on dash, especially the CEL and/or the immob icon?