ive got a 1992 ford aerostar... and its not starting.. all i get out of it is a single click...

battery tested good, alternator works fine, and its not a short..

i even tried shorting the cylanoid... which apparently works when this happens..

did some research and one of 3 things causes this vehical to commenly not start... battery, cylanoid, starter motor..

if someone can help me get it started... twice... have to get to the gas station to fill the tank... that would be greatly appreciated.... otherwise im hoping someone with a truck can help me tow it... see other post
http://r01ajrhc8.desktop.umr.edu:8080/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17046

Probably the starter, or the key cylinder.

Pull the starter, take it to Autozone and have it tested. Don't try just shorting it across the battery terminals, you'll fry it.

The single click you heard was probably the solenoid firing. It's fine.

if you get it started, don't turn it off at the gas station

Make sure the battery terminals are clean of corrosion. Make sure the wires to the starter are attached well and not corroded. If you still only get a click when you jump the solenoid, the starter is most likely bad.

yea scubastevesvo is gonna give me a hand trying to get it to start.. his moms did the same thing... so im hoping we can get it going... sounds like i just beat the starter to get it going.. XD i really hope

I'll second the first half of this post. I rebuilt a vw rabbit and I'd just get one click. The terminals weren't super corroded, but I got fed up with it and took the cables off, got my knife out, and scored all the black stuff and then sanded that off. After that then the starter would try turning just fine.

I had the same thing happen to me. My friend got out a crowbar and hit my starter. Oddly enough, it worked. I got it replaced though because it didn't completely fix the problem.

You can usually thump your gas tank when your fuel pump is going out as well, but it will USUALLY only work a time or two, so make it count....

Hey Will, here's the answer to your question. Lose the Ford!!! That's your problem. It's a Fix Or Repair Daily/Found On Roadside Dead.

Aww come on man. Show some blue love!

heh it was the starter motor or w/e... took a few wacks and started right up... simple replacement... gonna see if i can do it actually.

thanks for all the advice.. and unless someone knows how to go about replacing the starter motor.. im all set for now... unless of course the thing i plan on replacing is really called something else and in that case i need to know what its called

It usually isn't that complicated to replace a starter. Just pay attention to how it comes off and put the new one on the same way. It should be much easier on your van than it was my car, I could barely shove the new one in

The hardest part of starter replacement is actually getting to the damn thing. Especially on those Ford vans--well, at least it's not an Econoline. It should just be a few bolts on and off, plus a wiring harness. Nothing too hard.

yea... ive never really done any acutal car work... did some body work and that was perty easy... done maintainace... even helped someone replace their tranny.... but never actually done work on my own as of yet... well see how that goes lol