Intro
As a certified Auto mechanic with over 20 years of experience, I’ve seen my good share of Aerostars that refuse to start. And believe me, I understand how frustrating it can be when you’ve got places to go, you hop in, turn the key, and … drum roll please … absolutely nothing!
But fear not, you’ve come to the right place. My name’s Robby and in this article, I’m going to guide you through the most frequent reasons why your Ford Aerostar won’t start. I’ll discuss all the most common causes and you’ll understand how to diagnose each potential cause, as well as what to do in each case. I’ll provide useful troubleshooting tips and repair solutions based on my 20 years’ of practical experience, so you can get your Ford Aerostar starting and driving again as swiftly as possible.
Understanding Why a Ford Aerostar Won’t Start
Before we get stuck into the causes and repair options it’s crucial to initially comprehend the problem. When you hop into your car and realize “My Ford Aerostar won’t start”, this could be due to an array of things being wrong with your vehicle. Perhaps the engine is not cranking at all, potentially it is cranking partially but then not starting, or perhaps it’s making a clicking noise when you try to start the engine, however ultimately nothing happens. Each of these scenarios can indicate various problems with your car.
Common Reasons Why Your Ford Aerostar Won’t Start
There are numerous reasons that an Aerostar will not start up. These problems usually consist of a weak or dead car battery, a bad alternator, starter motor failures, fuel system problems, as well as electrical or wiring problems. Every one of these issues can manifest as different symptoms and require separate solutions to detect and fix, so we can get your car back on the road as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Ford Aerostar That Won’t Start
Being able to recognize and diagnose these symptoms, will help you in finding the root cause of the problem. For instance, when you turn the key in the ignition, and you hear a clicking noise but your Ford still won’t start, it is often an indication that there is an issue with the fuel or ignition system.
Analysis of The Reasons Why Your Ford Aerostar Won’t Start
The initial step to finding a practical solution to the problem is figuring out the underlying cause of that problem, so let’s look into the most common reasons your Aerostar can’t start.
Ford Aerostar Battery Issues
In the majority of instances, the most common reason why your Ford Aerostar will not start is, in many cases because of the battery, it’s either dead or weak, and you have to either recharge your car’s battery or replace it. The vehicle’s battery stores the electric needed to start the engine, and power all the electrical parts in your Ford Aerostar. Signs of a bad battery problem in a Aerostar, can be things like the vehicle being sluggish to crank the engine, dim or weak headlights, or a lit-up battery warning light on the dash. A portable jump starter allows you to jump start your car if the battery is dead without needing another vehicle. And a battery charger can help recharge a dead battery and diagnose battery issues.
Ford Aerostar Alternator Problems
The alternator is for charging the battery from the engine while the car is running. A broken alternator can easily stop your Ford Aerostar from starting as it will not be able to charge up the battery, from the engine, so it will drain all the way down until it’s dead and you only realize it when you can’t get your Ford started. Signs that your Aerostars alternator may be faulty include a lit-up battery or alternator caution light on the dashboard, poorly lit headlights when the engine is idling, and also a whining or grinding sound from the engine while it’s running.
Ford Aerostar Starter Motor Failures
When you start your Ford Aerostar, the starter motor deals with turning the engine over (cranking it). If the starter motor is failing in some way then the engine may not crank, and your Aerostar won’t start. You can find out if your starter motor has an issue or not often by listening for a clicking noise when you turn the key or a grinding sound during the startup, or your car starts up but only intermittently, then the starter motor may very well be the problem.
Ford Aerostar Fuel System Complications
We’re not talking about when you just run out of gas here, but the fuel system itself having problems. Your Ford Aerostar uses a combustion engine, and, therefore, to start and run, it needs a combination of both fuel and air. If your Aerostar problems are because of a faulty fuel system, this might be a clogged fuel filter or a faulty fuel pump relay, which could suggest the engine might not be receiving the fuel it needs to get the car started. Over time fuel injectors can also get clogged, so using a fuel injector cleaner like Red Line can help clean them and improve starting.
Ford Aerostar Electrical System or Wiring Problems
Modern Ford Aerostars rely greatly on electronic components, which can mean there are lots of things that can potentially break. Even in an older model, you can still have regular problems such as blown fuses, spark plug problems, a damaged ignition switch, or a damaged sensor, and more. These can be some of the many electrical reasons your car will not start. Signs of a circuitry or electrical problem can differ widely but can often include the engine not cranking, or your Aerostar can start however just intermittently or numerous alert lights come on the dashboard. To effectively identify and repair these kinds of issues, you will need the skills of a knowledgeable car mechanic in your area or online.
Solutions & Repair Tips
As soon as you have figured out what the cause of your car being unable to start is. The next logical step is of course to try and fix it. Here are some suggestions for the typical issues we’ve covered previously.
How to Troubleshoot and Fix Battery Issues in a Ford Aerostar
If you think it’s possibl a battery issue is the reason your Aerostar has trouble starting up, then the first thing you must do is inspect the battery terminals. You want them to be clean, not corroded, and tightly connected. If you happen to find that the terminals are in fact corroded you can try cleaning them with a mix of baking soda and water.
Once you have checked the battery terminals, you can check to see if the battery is just out of charge, or worse, it’s old and weak, or dead and needs to be replaced. For this, you can charge the battery in a few different ways:
- With the help of another vehicle and jumper cables to jump-start your Aerostar’s battery.
- Use a car battery charger that you can plug into a socket to charge it up.
- Use a portable car battery charger you can take with you on the go, so you are never left stranded when on the move.
If the battery charges up and works fine, great, problem solved! However, you will need to replace the battery if it’s weak or old. Otherwise, even if you charge it up enough to start the vehicle, it will probably deplete quickly again in the not so distant future. You can use a multimeter or OB2 scanner as a way to test the life of the battery to see if it’s worth saving or if it needs swapped out for a new one. You can get a replacement car battery for your exact Ford model by visiting Amazon here, and selecting “enter a new vehicle” to filter the results for your Ford Aerostar, and choose a suitable one, from a seller with great reviews.
If charging your Aerostar’s battery does not resolve your issues, and problems like frequent draining and needing frequent charges persist even after replacing the battery, there is likely a more complex underlying issue causing excessive battery drain. In that case, you will need a professional mechanic to inspect and diagnose the root cause. You can also ask the advice of a mechanic online through us, or get an instant free quote on a mechanics that travels to your vehicle near me.
How to Diagnose Alternator Problems in a Ford Aerostar
If the alternator is what you think is the cause, you can test it. If you can get the vehicle to start up temporarily (you may need to jump-start the car for that), but when it’s going, let the vehicle run, and while the engine is running, disconnect the positive terminal of the battery. It’s most likely due to a problem with your car’s alternator if you discover your Ford Aerostar dies right away when you disconnect the positive terminal. You should be aware however that this method can be dangerous, and may damage the delicate electronic elements in your Ford Aerostar, so it’s necessary to consult with a reliable car mechanic in your area or online, prior to ever trying this.
How to Identify Starter Motor Failures in a Ford Aerostar
If you hear the clicking sound when you try and start the car by turning the key, however the engine doesn’t crank, then its likely an issue with your starter motor. In this case, the solution is to have the starter motor replaced by a professional mechanic.
How to Solve Fuel System Complications in a Ford Aerostar
If you think the issue to be due to a fuel system problem, try and listen for the fuel pump when you turn the key to the “on” position, before starting the vehicle. You should hear a humming sound for a few seconds. If you are not able to hear this noise, then it may be there is an issue with the fuel pump. If you notice your Ford is tough to start, it stalls, or it has bad acceleration, it could be due to a clogged fuel filter. Both of these will likely require a professional car mechanic in order to effectively fix. This is because may require a fuel pressure test kit and mechanic’s tool set to fully diagnose and repair fuel system problems.
How to Repair Electrical or Wiring Problems in a Ford Aerostar
If you suspect it’s an electrical wiring or electrical system problem, first check the fuses related to the ignition system, and change any that have blown. If your Aerostar starts after this, then it was an effective, cheap and easy repair! However, if the vehicle does not start, even intermittently it might be an issue with the ignition switch itself. If different warning lights are visible on your dashboard, it might be because of a damaged sensor. These issues can be very intricate and a reliable car mechanic is likely required to diagnose and have it properly repaired. They will probably need tools like a multimeter and OBD2 scanner to test wiring and pinpoint electrical gremlins.
Preventive Steps
As my dad always stated “Prevention is better than cure”, so here are the best ways to ensure you prevent any Ford Aerostar starting difficulties again!
Routine Maintenance of Your Ford Aerostar:
Regular maintenance of your Ford Aerostar is essential to preventing future difficulties. This consists of things like routine oil changes, checking your car battery, cleaning the terminals, changing the fuel filter as suggested/required, and of course having your car inspected by a professional car mechanic routinely. If you are uncertain about routine maintenance tasks needed for your specific car, you can speak with a mechanic in your area or online.
Drive Your Ford Aerostar Regularly:
If you happen to leave your Ford Aerostar off for long durations of time without taking it for a spin now and again, the battery will drain as it’s not getting any charge from the engine being in use. Try your best to drive your car frequently to keep the battery charged. If you remember you have not driven your vehicle in a while, take it for a spin to ensure there is still charge in the battery. Worth noting: letting the battery completely drain, is also damaging for the long-term life of the battery, try not to do this.
Take Notice Of Warning Signs:
If you notice anything odd like unusual sounds, changes in how it drives and the performance, or alert lights are now visible on the dash, do not ignore them and get on with your day. These are usually early warnings of a problem and are best being dealt with ASAP before they end up being much bigger issues later. Talk to a car mechanic locally or online about these problems and find out if they need to be dealt with.
When to Ask a Ford Mechanic Online
If you want to save time, would like a specialist Ford mechanic on hand to guide and to advise you, or you have tried to resolve it by yourself, but despite your best efforts your car fails to start, then talking with a Ford mechanic online can be a fantastic option. It certainly beats googling things like “why is my Ford not starting” all day and still getting no where.
Benefits of an Online Ford Mechanic
Online mechanic services, like ours in the bottom right of this page, provide several benefits. You can get skilled Ford mechanic recommendations 24×7 and without leaving your house, which is especially useful if your vehicle will not start and is stuck in the driveway. You can also save money as online mechanic consultations are much cheaper than a physical visit to a local mechanic near you. Plus, you can get the answer rapidly, which is terrific if you’re in a rush, need a second opinion, or you simply prefer having a professional Ford mechanic on hand.
How Solutions Like MechanicAnswer.com Can Help You
MechanicAnswer.com connects you with accredited professional mechanics who can offer instant assistance, guidance and suggestions with all issues and all Ford models. So it doesn’t matter if your Ford Windstar won’t start or it’s your Aerostar that you’re having issues with, we’ve got the mechanics online that with a little bit of information over a chat box, can solve anything for you.
You’re able to have the ability to describe the issues you are having with your car, ask Ford mechanics limitless questions, and even upload pictures and videos so you can actually show the mechanic what you mean. You can speak to them by means of online chat or by phone call, whichever you prefer. The Ford mechanic will help you identify the problem, guide you on what are the best options for your individual scenario and even assist you through basic maintenance and repair work every step of the way.
So feel free to try out our talk to a Ford mechanic on the phone service and see for yourself!
Conclusion
In a nut shell, when your Ford Aerostar won’t start, it will likely be a major bummer and a huge hassle. However, understanding what might be causing the problems, having the ability to troubleshoot them, and knowing what actions are required in each case, and where to get help if needed, will be a substantial help. Remember that regular maintenance is key to preventing the majority of car problems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What should I do if my Ford Aerostar can’t start?
First off, do not panic. Attempt to identify any symptoms that could suggest an issue, such as unusual sounds, warning lights on the dash, or changes in performance. The reason for the problem is most likely one of the most common causes discussed in this guide. You will need the help of a mechanic locally or online if you can’t find the cause of the problem yourself.
How to tell if my Ford Aerostar won’t start because of the battery?
Signs of a battery issue in a Aerostar include the engine being slow to crank, dim headlights, and lit battery warning lights on the dash. You can also check the battery terminals to see if they are clean, not corroded, and securely connected. If the battery is weak or old, it might be best to simply replace it.
How can I prevent my Ford Aerostar not starting issues?
In order to make certain this annoyance never occurs again, regular maintenance is key. This includes things like oil changes, inspecting the battery and cleaning its terminals, changing the fuel filter as recommended/required, and having your Ford Aerostar inspected by a mechanic frequently. It’s also a terrific idea to drive the car regularly so the battery remains charged.
Can I ask a mechanic online if my Ford Aerostar can’t start?
Yes, you can. An online mechanic service like ours can provide instantaneous specialist Ford mechanic help and recommendations, without you needing to leave your house. If your Ford Aerostar fails to start and is stuck in the driveway, this is particularly useful.
How can services like MechanicAnswer.com help if my Ford Aerostar will not start?
We connect you with certified expert Ford mechanics who can supply recommendations on your particular scenario. You can inform them about your vehicle issues, ask unlimited questions, and even upload images and videos so you can effectively explain and show the issue. The mechanic will be able to help, troubleshoot, identify the issue, recommend the very best course of action and guide you along the way.
