#1 2004 Ford Taurus ---- I replaced the fuel pump in my 2004 taurus because I was not hearing it come on and the car would not start. I replaced the fuel pump Wednesday and the car ran fantastic. Started it today on Friday and it will not start. Fuel pump is coming on, battery is good…
#2 2000 Dodge Dakota----- I went to take the truck to the store. No windshield washers, no dimmer light. Back 3rd brake light was staying on so I unhooked the battery so it did not kill it during the night…I realize the problem with the third brake light now on cab of truck…When I couldn’t get the dimmer light on I adjusted the button and it caused that to stay on. I turned it down and that went off. Still no windshield wipers, no dimmer light…Fuses to these are good.
Now…reconnected battery- truck won’t start. Had an issue before after disconnecting the battery…Had to folllow some instruction to reset computer (turn key to start wait 20 seconds, reconnect negative battery and should start) I had a heck of time with this the last time and was pretty sure I followed these same steps…Still no start.
You have indeed seem to run into a bit a bad luck. Neither vehicle will start? hmmm … which one do you need repaired the soonest? Suggest to decide that, and defer all work on the other one until the most important vehicle is working again.
The Taurus seems like it will be a the least perplexing diagnosis and repair. When you say it won’t start, do you still hear that "rrr rrr rrr " sound w/the key in start?
Forgot to mention. I regards to the 2004 Ford Taurus.
After several attempts to start it without turning over. The speedometer and rpm gauge shake and their is a clicking noise coming from the dash.
A few years ago this same thing happened with no start… I think the PCM was loose. I reconnected it and tightened it and it started. I didn’t take it all the way out but I did check and it is in tight.
BOTH VEHICLES WILL NOT START…I have a 3rd running vehicle…just trying to get these to back as well.
Just a thought as far as them both not running after heavy rain. I had a 2001 ford Windstar. the ECM was located on the pass. side firewall like your taurus. the rain would run off the cowl and on top of the ECM connection. when I pulled it apart the connector was full of water. On the Dakota it is located on the pass. side fender. you could disconnect the battery and check to see if water is in the connector. especially the ford. the Dakota I believe had all sorts of electrical problems from new from what I have read online. I would check under dash for burnt wires for some of the other problems.
And the headlights stay on when the ignition is on/headlight switch is off: the central timer module has failed. This is located behind the left foot-well kick panel.
Always connect the battery with the ignition off. To disarm the security system after connecting the battery, press the unlock button on the keyless entry remote.
The panel dimmer switch also controls the cargo lamp located in the center stop lamp, the light switches on when the dimmer is rotated all the way to the stop.
I will check the ECM or the PCM whatever it is called tomorrow. That clicking noise and gauges moving was exactly what happened a few years ago. So maybe that is it. Maybe it is wet.
The dodge dakota ---- started fine night of the rain…I noticed while driving it that the inside dimmer light wasn’t working and the windshield wipers would not work. I disconnected the battery because one light was staying on and I didn’t want tit o kill the battery (it was late I didn’t want to check things, then found out it was that roller switch.)
So I don’t thinik it was a starting issue until I unhooked the battery.
There was a procedure the last time I disconnected the battery and it was the same issue with no start.
It was “put the key to the start position with the negative side of battery disconnected… Then reconnect the battery and start the engine.”
I found this on a website again but I seem to think there was another part where you held the gas to the floor, but I could be wrong.
Suggest to not do that unless/until you confirm from someone who definitely knows. It seems unsafe. Not familiar w/your Dodge’s configuration, but also don’t understand how a person could place the key in “start”, then get out of the truck to do something w/the battery? Wouldn’t the key move out of “start” by spring action, as soon as you let it go?