# Battery? engine? solenoid? I'm not sure **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** escort, batteries, engines, ford\ **Created:** [September 29, 2010, 1:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-engine-solenoid-im-not-sure/55738 "2010-09-29T13:34:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kb1185](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@kb1185](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kb1185)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 1:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-engine-solenoid-im-not-sure/55738/1 "2010-09-29T13:34:00Z")
My 2000 Ford Escort has issues. It has problems turning over when it’s cooler outside (sometimes it won’t turn over at all), and recently my “check engine” light came on. Not long after the light came on, my car started shaking more than usual when it’s idle (sometimes), and it turned off completely at a stop light yesterday. I was able to start it again without any problems. I need to get a new solenoid for my car…could a bad solenoid be causing all these problems? Or is there a problem with the battery or engine? Or is it all of these things? ---
**Author:** ![Goldwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@Goldwing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Goldwing)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-engine-solenoid-im-not-sure/55738/2 "2010-09-29T14:22:59Z")
Since your check engine light came on, take it to a local auto parts store that will read the computer codes for free. Then post the results here. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-engine-solenoid-im-not-sure/55738/3 "2010-09-29T14:25:31Z")
Stop guessing. The battery and starter can be tested. Most auto parts do it free. Have the codes read to see why the Check Engine Light is on. Most auto parts stores ditto. Until you do some testing you won’t know where the problem is. Or problems are. Either way, guessing will cause you to spend money needlessly. ---
**Author:** ![kb1185](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@kb1185](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kb1185)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-engine-solenoid-im-not-sure/55738/4 "2010-09-29T14:45:29Z")
I had a diagnostics test ran on the car yesterday. The test said it was a “lean” problem or something like that…I remember the guy said “lean.” He told me it could be any number of things, including a dirty fuel injector or a problem with a hose, so he said to start off with adding a fuel additive to clean the fuel injector. ---
**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:** [September 29, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-engine-solenoid-im-not-sure/55738/5 "2010-09-29T20:20:59Z")
See if you can get the actual error codes. They will have a format of [P1234] Post that code to a replay to your original message.