Ever since last summer I have been having starting problems with my 99 Cobra. The problems started when I drove it to work one day and it would not crank in the parking lot after work. I had some co-workers push me down a slight grade so I could pop the clutch and it fired. The only way I could get it to crank after that was to add a separate ground wire from a starter mounting bolt to the chassis. I checked the red factory ground strap between the motor mount and the chassis but that did not seem to be the problem. I cleaned the connections at this ground even though they were not corroded. The factory ground strap did not have excessive resistance when I checked it with a volt meter. At this point I could at least drive the car.
Then I started having an intermittent problem with it cranking but not firing. Sometimes it would start with no problem and other times it would crank but not fire. Now it will not crank again. The battery is fully charged and I pulled the starter and had it checked. I also replaced my temporary ground wire from the starter with a heavier gauge pre-made ground strap since the wire melted when it would not fire. I also removed the factory ground strap again and checked and cleaned the connections again.
When I turn the key now I am getting a loud clicking sound at the starter but it will not engage. Also, now if I leave the battery ground terminal connected the battery discharges over night. The multi-meter is showing .85A current draw when I connect it between the positive battery post and cable, for whatever that's worth.
The car has extremely low miles and stays in a dry garage. I suspect it is still a ground or short issue but I have checked all of the obvious ground connections including those at the core support for the under-hood fuse/relay box.
I am about to call the local Ford dealer and have them haul it in even though I feel it could be something simple. Any ideas? Could it be a faulty ignition switch? Where is the ground connection for the EEC Power Relay? I assume at the core support. Has anyone experienced a similar issue on their Cobra?
Then I started having an intermittent problem with it cranking but not firing. Sometimes it would start with no problem and other times it would crank but not fire. Now it will not crank again. The battery is fully charged and I pulled the starter and had it checked. I also replaced my temporary ground wire from the starter with a heavier gauge pre-made ground strap since the wire melted when it would not fire. I also removed the factory ground strap again and checked and cleaned the connections again.
When I turn the key now I am getting a loud clicking sound at the starter but it will not engage. Also, now if I leave the battery ground terminal connected the battery discharges over night. The multi-meter is showing .85A current draw when I connect it between the positive battery post and cable, for whatever that's worth.
The car has extremely low miles and stays in a dry garage. I suspect it is still a ground or short issue but I have checked all of the obvious ground connections including those at the core support for the under-hood fuse/relay box.
I am about to call the local Ford dealer and have them haul it in even though I feel it could be something simple. Any ideas? Could it be a faulty ignition switch? Where is the ground connection for the EEC Power Relay? I assume at the core support. Has anyone experienced a similar issue on their Cobra?
