Urgent 2001 Ford festiva starter motor wont turn over

**andyroo** · 12-05-2006, 01:41 PM

hey guys,

I know this aint for Ford, but my mates g/f car just wont turn over. It seems to be the safety feature that wont let it start if it aint in park (its auto) But even if it is in park it makes no differnce. It just clicks, like a braker or something is stopping it turning over.

Andy ideas????

**SilverGhost** · 12-05-2006, 01:54 PM

The first things to check is that its definitely in park....or see if it can possibly start in neutral. since its auto, if the starter throw out gear is old ar faulty it may not be engaging on the flywheel you may need to crank the engine a little by hand. This will rotate the flywheel a little bit and hopefully the teeth will mesh in.

Another thing to also check is that the battery has enough kick and the wiring from the battery to the starter is intact.

If all that yields no joy, then maybe the switch thats on the shifter mechanism is at fault.

**CrUZida** · 12-05-2006, 01:55 PM

Single click?
or click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click?

**andyroo** · 12-05-2006, 02:01 PM

yes cruzida, just a single click

Tried stick in all positions, even nuetral. Checked wring it all seems ok. i tried to take off centre console to see if safety mechanism is damaged to to try and short it, but cant get the friggin thing off!! bloody moulded plastic!!

**ra23celica** · 12-05-2006, 02:03 PM

I have a Festiva that is doing exactly the same thing.
The solenoid in the starter motor is U/S.
You will need to replace/rebuilt it.
I am doing this and then selling the Festiva.

**andyroo** · 12-05-2006, 02:21 PM

Thanks guys,

Its facartured, but it doesnt matter now, they were going up to syd, wanted to take it instead of Daves magna, half the fuel costs etc. Im constantly trying to get her to sell the pile or junk, but you know girls..."but its so cute! and bubbly!"

**Hen** · 12-05-2006, 02:54 PM

May be a little late, but you could try "tapping" the starter with a hammer/broom in case its just caught at a dead spot.

I'd think that if was a shifter problem it wouldn't even click. However I have no experience with 2001 Festivas (thankfully).

Hen

**andyroo** · 12-05-2006, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Hen

However I have no experience with 2001 Festivas (thankfully).

Hen

Lol Hen, and I did try tapping the starter, no joy. Theyve gone now, but Im gunna keep trying just to see if I can figure it out. I think its the safety feature, but I also think its located in the engine bay, where the cable from shifter selects gears. There are some wires that look a bit dodgey comming off it, very hard and corroded, gunna try replacing or re wring them. Thanks for the quick suggestions guys.

**MWP** · 12-05-2006, 04:06 PM

A flat/bad battery can also cause this, something else to check.

**BradW** · 12-05-2006, 05:44 PM

If it was the inhibitor switch then as Hen said it would not click.
First step, try to jump start it.
Second step, try putting battery supply straight onto the starter switch wire. If it still wont go then the starter is stuffed.