# 2002 ford explorer

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-ford-explorer/9245>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [January 10, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-ford-explorer/9245 "2008-01-10T17:30:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ron1959](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@ron1959](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ron1959)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-ford-explorer/9245/1 "2008-01-10T17:30:45Z")

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My Explorer will not start. It makes a click, click, clicking sound when I try to start the car. I had the battery checked, it was good and I changed the starter. Before I changed the starter I tapped on the solenoid and sometimes it would start. Any other things I could check?

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-ford-explorer/9245/2 "2008-01-10T19:01:39Z")

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Check BOTH ends of every while attached to either the starter or the battery.

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**Author:** ![Opera\_House](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@Opera\_House](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Opera_House)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-ford-explorer/9245/3 "2008-01-10T20:14:17Z")

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The key operates the solenoid on the fender. That operates the solenoid on the starter. The fender solenoid may be bad. The two large terminals on this can be jumpered to operate the starter. Mine was flaky and I used to turn the key to on, pop the hood, and just jumper the solenoid with a paper clip when I was stuck.