FX45 will not start

S

Speedster

Member
Location
Colorado
2006 FX45, 72k miles

A week ago the car was turned off for a quick errand. Got back out to the car and it wouldn't start. Starter turned over rapidly, but not a hint of wanting to start. Waited, listened for fuel pump with key switching on (think I heard it priming), still no start. Disconnected battery, reconnected after a few seconds, still no start. Disconnected battery again. Waited 5 minutes, reconnected battery and it immediately started. Never a starting issue ever before in 3yr history with this car.

Started fine probably dozens of times since then until tonight. Same thing. Rapid starter turnover, just didn't want to start. Tried disconnecting the battery and waiting 5 minutes before reconnecting but it did not start. Disconnected battery again and reconnected after a few seconds (actually did this 3 times), and third time it started right up.

No check engine light, no other symptoms or problems.

Help, I have no idea where to start... seems like an electrical issue but haven't fully ruled out a fuel issue.

EDIT: Zero other issues! Car runs fine, idles fine, etc. When it starts, 99.9% of the time, it fires right up on second turn of starter. New battery a few months ago, very rapid started turnover when this no-starting issue happens. When it does start (after battery disconnects and reconnects, etc.) it fires right up as if nothing was ever wrong in the first place.

Big time TIA! -John in Colorado
 
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Ive had the same issue only with one occurrence though. Didnt want to start. After battery disconnect and reconnecting started as if nothing ever happen. Never had a problem since though
 
My FX did that too a couple years back. One day just would not start. Nothing seemed off or out of ordinary. The battery however seemed to drain a bit more. The only thing I found that was "off" were two burnt lightbulbs on front parking lights. Upon replacing them, the car started. Never had this problem after. Random coincidence? Maybe but a friend electrician told me that some cars run so called internal circuit check/lock up, if there is a short or the system cannot perform a full circuit from start to end it can cause start problems.


Sent from my iPhone
 
Thanks for all the responses! I'll address a couple ideas:

- IntelliKey Fob - I experimented this morning by sitting down in the car with key in pocket, turning the ignition to "on", then removing the key battery. The immediately knew the battery was out and flashed a red "key" icon on the dash. So, I think I can rule the key fob out for my situation because when it would not start it was perfectly happy with the key. But, as long as I had the battery out I threw it away and put in a new one.

- Battery - It is new (February) and it is very strong.

- Starter - The engine turns over quite quickly whether it starts or not.

- Module unit - What's that?

- Other lights - I know I've got a fog light out but it has been out for over 2 years. Hmm. Interesting.
 
There are several "computer modules" in every vehicle. The one that controls the engine and transmission is called the PCM (Power-train Control Module) On some cars, they might have a separate module for the transmission called the TCM (Transmission Control Module) Most cars now have something called the BCM (Body Control Module) which controls things like power locks, windows, mirrors etc... I cant have a bulb out for 5 minutes forget 2 years, lol
 
I believe in the FX, it is usually the AC Amp that gets replaced for a crank/no start condition.

My FX does this every once and a while, but in my case I can open the door, lock the doors from outside using the key fob buttons, unlock the doors using the keyfob buttons, get back in the car and it starts right up. Prior to figuring out this combination we had in the past completely killed the battery by cranking it, and then had it start after going home to get another car to jump it.

We also have taken a taxi home and then gone back an hour later and had it start fine, and also had walked home, gone back with another car to empty it out and had it start fine.

We tried replacing the crank and cam position sensors with no change.

All told, it has probably happened to us 7-8 times in 110K miles. Now that we have figured out the routine that works for us, it is very quick to resolve.
 
I had starting issues when the positive battery cable was loose (not your problem). What I found was that on the first try, if it cranks and doesn't catch, you need to wait a few minutes before trying again. Injectors are dumping fuel and if it doesn't start, it's flooding and you need to wait. I once spent 10+ minutes cranking it trying to figure out why it wouldn't start. Waited a few minutes, it started and my whole parking deck smelled like gas. Some nice backfires on startup too.
 
Thanks for sharing this info CBRworm. It will comes in handy one day. :good:
CBRworm said:
I believe in the FX, it is usually the AC Amp that gets replaced for a crank/no start condition.

My FX does this every once and a while, but in my case I can open the door, lock the doors from outside using the key fob buttons, unlock the doors using the keyfob buttons, get back in the car and it starts right up. Prior to figuring out this combination we had in the past completely killed the battery by cranking it, and then had it start after going home to get another car to jump it.

We also have taken a taxi home and then gone back an hour later and had it start fine, and also had walked home, gone back with another car to empty it out and had it start fine.

We tried replacing the crank and cam position sensors with no change.

All told, it has probably happened to us 7-8 times in 110K miles. Now that we have figured out the routine that works for us, it is very quick to resolve.
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