HELP! 1996 Mustang GT Will Not Start! (LONG Description of a WEIRDProblem....)

Hello Everyone:

I have a 1996 GT, 5-speed manual transmission.

A couple of months ago, I noticed that my car wouldn't start. When you
turn the key, all you would hear is a click (I am assuming it is the
starter solenoid). Then, if you turn the key again and again,
sometimes you get lucky and the car starts right up as if there were
nothing wrong at all!

I had my battery and starter tested. Battery was bad, but starter was
good. Just to be safe, I replaced BOTH items, and I made sure that all
connections to the starter and battery were clean and VERY tight.

Car did fine for a while, and then the non-start problem reappeared.

This time I removed the ignition key lock cylinder and sprayed inside
the steering column with a generous amount of electronic contact
cleaner.

I put the car back together and it started very regularly after that.
Maybe once in a GREAT while it wouldn't start, but simply turning the
key a second time would make the car fire up right away.

It might be my imagination, but I believe the problem happens more
often in warmer weather.

Well, now my car absolutely REFUSES to start. I just get the click
when I turn the key. NOTHING else. It WILL NOT turn over at all.

Honestly, I am out of ideas here!

Is there a part that commonly fails on cars this old?

Could it be the ignition switch under the dash?

Is there a switch connected to the clutch pedal? Something else?
(INTERESTING NOTE: When my car was healthy, I could start it even if
my foot was OFF of the clutch pedal.)

I am really tired of dealing with this. What could possibly be wrong
with my car?

Many, many thanks in advance....

"EADGBE" > wrote in message
...
> Hello Everyone:
>
> I have a 1996 GT, 5-speed manual transmission.
>
> A couple of months ago, I noticed that my car wouldn't start. When you
> turn the key, all you would hear is a click (I am assuming it is the
> starter solenoid). Then, if you turn the key again and again,
> sometimes you get lucky and the car starts right up as if there were
> nothing wrong at all!
>
> I had my battery and starter tested. Battery was bad, but starter was
> good. Just to be safe, I replaced BOTH items, and I made sure that all
> connections to the starter and battery were clean and VERY tight.
>
> Car did fine for a while, and then the non-start problem reappeared.
>
> This time I removed the ignition key lock cylinder and sprayed inside
> the steering column with a generous amount of electronic contact
> cleaner.
>
> I put the car back together and it started very regularly after that.
> Maybe once in a GREAT while it wouldn't start, but simply turning the
> key a second time would make the car fire up right away.
>
> It might be my imagination, but I believe the problem happens more
> often in warmer weather.
>
> Well, now my car absolutely REFUSES to start. I just get the click
> when I turn the key. NOTHING else. It WILL NOT turn over at all.
>
> Honestly, I am out of ideas here!
>
> Is there a part that commonly fails on cars this old?
>
> Could it be the ignition switch under the dash?
>
> Is there a switch connected to the clutch pedal? Something else?
> (INTERESTING NOTE: When my car was healthy, I could start it even if
> my foot was OFF of the clutch pedal.)
>
> I am really tired of dealing with this. What could possibly be wrong
> with my car?
>
> Many, many thanks in advance....

You had battery and starter replaced, but did you ever replace the solenoid?

....and, yes, there should be an ignition cut-out in the clutch pedal. The
pedal should be pushed in while starting the car.

dwight

"dwight" > wrote in message
. ..
> "EADGBE" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hello Everyone:
> >
> > I have a 1996 GT, 5-speed manual transmission.
> >
> > A couple of months ago, I noticed that my car wouldn't start. When you
> > turn the key, all you would hear is a click (I am assuming it is the
> > starter solenoid). Then, if you turn the key again and again,
> > sometimes you get lucky and the car starts right up as if there were
> > nothing wrong at all!
> >
> > I had my battery and starter tested. Battery was bad, but starter was
> > good. Just to be safe, I replaced BOTH items, and I made sure that all
> > connections to the starter and battery were clean and VERY tight.
> >
> > Car did fine for a while, and then the non-start problem reappeared.
> >
> > This time I removed the ignition key lock cylinder and sprayed inside
> > the steering column with a generous amount of electronic contact
> > cleaner.
> >
> > I put the car back together and it started very regularly after that.
> > Maybe once in a GREAT while it wouldn't start, but simply turning the
> > key a second time would make the car fire up right away.
> >
> > It might be my imagination, but I believe the problem happens more
> > often in warmer weather.
> >
> > Well, now my car absolutely REFUSES to start. I just get the click
> > when I turn the key. NOTHING else. It WILL NOT turn over at all.
> >
> > Honestly, I am out of ideas here!
> >
> > Is there a part that commonly fails on cars this old?
> >
> > Could it be the ignition switch under the dash?
> >
> > Is there a switch connected to the clutch pedal? Something else?
> > (INTERESTING NOTE: When my car was healthy, I could start it even if
> > my foot was OFF of the clutch pedal.)
> >
> > I am really tired of dealing with this. What could possibly be wrong
> > with my car?
> >
> > Many, many thanks in advance....
>
> You had battery and starter replaced, but did you ever replace the
solenoid?
>
> ...and, yes, there should be an ignition cut-out in the clutch pedal. The
> pedal should be pushed in while starting the car.
>
> dwight
>

Another thing to take into account is the passive secuity system. If it
can't read the chip in the key or is buggered in some way it would explain
your symptoms.

Dave

Well, I *think* I found and solved the problem.

It was the small pigtail wire to the starter.

This apparently is the wire from the ignition switch.

When I replaced the starter, I installed automotive
electrical plugs on the starter's switch wire and the
wire from my car's wiring harness.

The type of plug I installed was the typical
"bullet" male plug with the matching socket.

Although I crimped AND soldered both male and
female plug parts onto the wires, and although the
male plug was still plugged in, it was apparently
not quite plugged in enough.

I pushed the bullet plug in a bit further, and I was
able to start the car with no problems.

Just to make sure, I gently crimped the socket to
make it a bit tighter on the bullet plug and then
re-connected the bullet.

Thanks for all the help! I really hope that I have
solved this nagging problem this time.