Sitting here in Tears....Not a grand holiday

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Huh?

You're going to have a bad holiday because you're car broke? Am I reading this right?

My dad had heart surgery yesterday.4 blockages were found and repaired.He's doing as well as a 76 YO can do.He'll be in the hospital most of next week,not home with the family for Christmas.
A woman I work with is spending her Christmas in Alabama,her uncle died Thursday,the funeral is today.
Thousands have loved ones overseas in Iraq,Afghanistan,in the service worldwide,who won't see them over the holidays.

And your car broke means your holidays are less than stellar? Sorry for the rant,but I just don't get it right now.....
 
Could it be that the Explorer was MEANT to break down, in order to leave you stranded at your brother's house, for a higher purpose??

Just a thought...
 
Ken (goatfarmer)

I am sorry to hear about your dad... I think my issues pail in compaison to that...My prayers are with you and your family in your dads time of need

I know I shouldn't let it rain on my parade and i am trying not to let it, but i really want to go spend christmas with my mom and family, although, i really don't want to leave Jason.......

As far as crawling under the truck... I don't know what to even look for.... It must be something simple, but lord knows what....

Maytag mom,
It's ok... I got a laugh out of it as well... Like i said at least i can get on here... LoL

Ok, well now i think it's time to see about getting the dead car towed...
 
Jason gave me this card as a pick me up a few minuets ago..

"scooter the squirrel would like to give you his left nut for a happy birthday"
 
Here's the one shot (its crappy, thanks to my brothers camera) of Jason i am allowed to share, mainly because he's afraid of being outed due to his military status..
 
car issues....

so it's totally dead or won't start? If it cranks and won't start you're probably looking at timing belt or ignition module. If it doesn't crank probably battery, starter, or nuetral safety switch. With your foot on the brake, put the car in nuetral and see if it starts. If it won't, try hitting the starter with a hammer, while someone tries to start it. Timing belt is something I'd rather not think about as that can be bad when they go. Good luck dude.
 
My car has a Timing Chain...

Car won't start... You flip the key over to that magical position and nothing... Again..Nothing.. Did not think to try the shift into netrul idea.. Going to try that..It's probably on the transmisson...

I know (due to my truck) usualy the started makes a funny noise or something happens gradually with a starter, so i am leaning away from that..
 
Jamie.... I Love You..

Jamie, I wanna jump through this computer and kiss you!!!!!!!!!

You just don't even understand........

Chris whent out and shifted it into netural and VOILA!!!!! IT started right up...

THANK YOU!!!!!

What could i ever do to repay you????

Chad
 
Hi:

On a Ford product built in the last ten or twelve years, you have something called a transmission range sensor that takes the place of the neutral safety switch of bygone days. They go out, and you have the kind of difficulty you describe, plus maybe some others.

When a TR sensor goes out, it can affect other stuff on the car until its fixed, because the stoopits at Ford routed a lot of other electrical stuff through the TR sensor and what is called the GEM module. Power windows may not work, turn signals may not work, other lights in the car may not work. You may also experience a lack of power steering, since some Fords use two electric stepper motors on the power steering rack. You can still steer the car- it just takes more effort.

The fix is actually pretty simple. Any good mechanic or dealer can replace the TR sensor and adjust it for proper function. One "been there, done that" tip: get a gen-yoo-wine Ford part, not a generic one from the local auto parts store. Ford has upgraded the part for better reliability. The repair is in the $125-150 range on most vehicles.

If you have more issues with the car, I suggest using the forums at flatratetech.com and asking the guys there. They're Ford dealership mechanics who help with tech issues on their personal time. Nice bunch of guys.
 
Thanks

They replaced my trans range sensor yesterday and it started this non sense... I did get a geniuine ford replacement.. Needs to go back for adjustment..

I am now planning on staying here until tuesday, anyway, and going to moms for new years... They need to make it right
 
Chad! No problem!!!! I'm glad it started! I'm not a mechanic by any means, BUT anything that CAN go wrong with a car has happened to me. I got introduced to neutral safety switch issues on a Pontiac Sunbird from HELL. I had an 86 Toyota Corolla that had an intermittant starting problem. It rarely acted up but when it did, it would strand you at will. I even had that damn thing towed one time and when it got to the dealer it started right up. They were sure it was the nuetral safety switch, but it wasn't. If you have one of those go bad they WILL start in nuetral. My problem ended up being the starter on that car. (that's where I learned to whack it with a hammer) Anyway.... glad you got it going and didn't get stranded on the holidays. Have a FANTASTIC Christmas!!!
 
Ah, yes. The infamous Ford neutral safety switch

I wish I would have read this when you first posted it. I've learned to always put a Ford in neutral if it won't start because it is often the neutral safety switch.

My '77 Ford F250 did this when I was in college. I replaced the starter and solenoid before I realized what the problem was - felt really dumb. It had done it the year before and I forgot, was thinking of other things, and simply assumed the starter had gone out because it was straining a little before this. On the bright side, the starter probably would have gone out before too long anyway. It still does it sometimes, I've never gotten around to adjusting or replacing the switch.

My '68 Ford Galaxie 500 will only start in neutral - the switch is out of adjustment and will not start in park. One of many things to fix as I restore the car.

Merry Christmas
 
Ken~Goatfarmer

I felt your posting was a bit harsh on Chad, Exploder 321. Think back to when you were 23 yrs old. We tend to deal with problems and stress better as we grow older and learn life's lessons. Maybe to him his car breaking down was a very traumatic situation. Maybe he is low on cash and couldn't afford to fix it? We should never pass judgement on others.
I am sorry about your dad's surgery. As I am sure you know, it could have been worse. He if fortunate to be alive considering his age and the fact he had 4 blockages. I would say that is a great Christmas present he and your family received!
And yes, lets all of us not forget the troops overseas in Iraq. I found out today my 21 yr old cousin in being sent there in January.
I wonder if we can draft the Bush twins???
 
Good to know I haven't lost my touch...

So- you did have a TR sensor issue. Glad to know I can still diagnose a Ford problem. Those mackerels sold me two bad cars in a row (a Sable that blew its head gasket at 89,000 miles, and a Taurus with the infamous "brown coolant" problem- from showroom to junkyard in only 66,000 miles). I have a vintage Volvo (made before Ford got its meathooks into the company) now. It's a 240 wagon, sort of the Dependable Care Maytag of cars.

The adjustment on the TR sensor is critical, and your dealer should make good on it at no charge. Annoying, wasn't it? On my Taurus, my TR sensor went out when driving, and it put my power steering out- in the middle of the damndest rainstorm you ever saw. Grrrrh.

Glad you're all better now.
 
I intended to buy another Taurus, someday..I have had one it was a dandy little car..
My mom had one for 10 years and 265K miles with only transmisson issues... It was a 1987, she got it August 1 1993 with 70K... When mom had her mental melt down in 2001, she lived out of that thing for 6 months, driving where ever doing odd jobs to make ends meet..Thank god my step dad got her collected and back on her feet

I understood Goatfarmers post a little... Yeah his dad is far more of an issue... Feel sorry for the poor lady dealing with death at christmas..

But in the same shoe, it's very hard on me.. I don't have medical insurance i fork out roughly $2,000 in medical bills because of this (i will be getting health insurance next month, because my grandparents have gotten back on there UHC policy, due to my arthrits, and other stuff)... When ever the car breaks, i cringe... It's hard.. I do make enough to cover the bills, medical issues and enough to buy me a lil somthin every month or to travel some... When something extra comes up (broken microwaves, etc) i cringe... Grams paid to rebuild the trans on my explorer, and for this switch that needs adjustment.. I just don't have the money...

I limited my christmas gifts to $20 for family members, $10 for others.... I want to spend more, but i can't...

The only person who will get a little more is my brother and sister... I pay for Shaenas onstar monthly on my credit card and i am going in half way with my sister and buy chris a front load washer like mine (which i have been saving for a long while)...

So thats why i got upset..I was soo afraid it was something like the Alternator or Battery... $$$$ i don't have.....

Any way thanks again guys
 

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