Starting issues

Asked by Guru1TMJ5 Aug 29, 2019 at 07:24 PM about the 2003 Ford Taurus SE

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I've had my car almost 2 years, from day one I had
a problem with the power steering. At first I was
refilling it with power steering fluid about every 3 to
4 weeks, eventually it got to the point where I was
refilling it every week. At that point I used stop
leak/sealer and after about 3 more weeks of
refilling it with power steering fluid it was no longer
a problem. Then about 2 months ago I noticed my
head lights got really low. About a week later I
began having starting issues. One morning I went
out and it wouldn't start, no radio or lights so I
figured it was the battery, I got a jump and it
started, a couple of days later it happened again, I
waited several hours and it did start right up
without a jump, a couple of days later it happened
again and I got a jump and that same day I got a
new battery put in. It was fine for about a month
then one day I pulled up at the gas station, I paid
for and pumped the gas and when I tried to start it,
I got nothing but a click. My radio and lights and
everything come on. A couple of hours later a
friend went to the gas station with me and told me
to turn the key while she tapped what we thought
was the starter. And the car started, it started every
time I got in it for about a week. I had my friend
once again tap what we thought was the starter
yesterday while I turned the key and it started
again. I was told to go to the car wash and power
spray the engine down because it was a lot of dirt
and build up from when I had the leak with the
power steering fluid. So last night I sprayed the
engine down. Im very short on cash so I was
watching YouTube videos on how to replace the
starter myself when I found out what we thought
was the starter was really the alternator. This
morning I went out and it started. I went to the
bank to get money so I could get the tools and a
starter and when I came out the bank my car
wouldn't start. At that point I just wanted to get the
car home, so first I tried what had worked the last
two times and had my friend tap what I now knew
was the alternator and it wouldn't start, I then
tapped the starter since I now knew where it was
located and it still wouldn't start, I still have radio,
lights and everything. I had to leave my car at the
bank. I need help. Please.

2 Answers

41,240

If you tapped the alternator and it started and your battery is draining, I would say you need a new alternator, not a starter. Have the car towed back home, and remove the alternator and have that tested at the auto parts store, and get a replacement if it is bad. Then replace the alternator and in the meantime have the battery put on a trickle charger. I would at some point replace the hoses on the power steering and or the pump if it is leaking.

I don't have a battery problem, I was tapping the alternator because I thought it was the starter. The radio and lights and everything come on Everytime I put the key in. I just hear the click when I try to start it.

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