3 days ago my daughter couldn't get our 2003 Taurus started after leaving it a few hours. Someone offered to start it and she drove it home. I suspected corrosion on the battery cables so cleaned those and tried to start it. It would turn over one or two revolutions and the stall the starter as if the engine locked. It acts similarly each time I try to start it. I then jumped it from another car after charging the battery with a trickle charger and it continues to act the same. A couple of times it almost started but then "locked up" and the started stopped. If you try it immediately it will turn over one or two rev again and then "lock up". Any ideas what could be causing this?

My daughter claims it started well when it was jumped and drove with out and noticeable problem after the initial problem 3 days aga.

Thanks,

 

Sounds like it's possible you have either a bad battery or worn out starter. Start by taking the battery and having it load tested to see if it's good.

 

If the battery was bad then the jump would have got it started.

Just wondering, is it possible that she put diesel in the tank?

It's also possible that the wires around the starter are corroded, or having a bad ground.

 

Thanks to GRAPE96 I checked the cable connections to the starter. They did not seem to be corroded but they weren't all that tight. Not loose but not snug either. I sanded them a bit and snugged them up nicely and presto, it started! Thanks again for the help.

 

No problem, might want to tighten all the other ground cables too. They're all over the car, they have an eyelet end on a black wire. I'm not sure exactly where all of them are, but tighten any you can find around the engine bay.

 

What type of security system do you on there. These cars are probe in having the security system go out. I would take to the dealer and ask to check the system. it might be bad. If it is. Have them remove it, cause to fix them they are going ask you for your first born!, If thats not what it is. have your vehicle speed sensor checked, it might need replacing. Good Luck!

 

Thread is 7 months old and problem was repaired on original posters last post.