STARTER MOTOR UNABLE TO CRANK WHEN IGNATION SWITCH ON

If the cars neutral safety switch is having electrical issues then the engine will not crank in park or and neutral. The starter relay relies on the switch for receiving any power. If it is not getting any power then the starter motor is unable to crank the engine. The neutral switch will have to be replaced.

More then likely the BCM is what is keeping it from cranking . Anti-theft system light lit or flashing when trying to crank the engine ? Try putting gear selector in neutral to see if it cranks then , park neutral safety switch problem . Do you know what a wiring diagram is , need to view to see what all is involved in the cranking circuit .

STARTING SYSTEM PFP:23300 System Description EKS00F9V A/T MODELS Power is supplied at all times ? to starter motor terminal 2 and ? through 40A fusible link (letter. j , located in the fuse and fusible link box) ? to ignition switch terminal B. With the ignition switch in the START position, power is supplied ? from ignition switch terminal ST ? to IPDM E/R terminal 21. With the ignition switch in the ON or START position, power is supplied to IPDM E/R (intelligent power distribution module engine room) CPU. With the selector lever in the P or N position, power is supplied ? through A/T assembly terminal 9 ? to IPDM E/R terminal 48. Ground is supplied at all times ? to IPDM E/R terminals 38 and 59 ? through body grounds E9, E15 (all) and E24 (VQ40DE model). Provided that the IPDM E/R receives a starter relay request ON signal from the BCM over the CAN lines, the IPDM E/R grounds the starter relay and power is supplied ? from terminal 19 of the IPDM E/R ? to terminal 1 of the starter motor. The starter motor plunger closes and provides a closed circuit between the battery and the starter motor. The starter motor is grounded to the cylinder block. With power and ground supplied, the starter motor operates.

Your best bet mite be to have a qualified technician check it . Do you know what C.A.N serial data network is ?

https://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Frontier/2007_Frontier/sc.pdf

First, starting a 1995 Ford can be a doze or more reasons. If the battery is A-Okay, you should get power to the starter motor that in turn engages with the crank. If that fails...check the STARTER MOTOR. If you get the starter to run and it keeps running without turning over the engine; your not getting ignition. No ignition means to power to the spark plugs. No spark no explosion, no piston movement and the crank shaft remains idol. If you do have repeated ignition and no explosion within the cylinders, it can be the fuel. The fuel could be old, water in the gas, or a plugged gas line. No spark could also be the spark plug wires are bad, or terminals are dirty. Also, the sparkplug Gap could be too wide or too narrow. And then again...it could be its a 1995 Ford.

What year ? For the 2004 model year, the Windstar was renamed the Ford Freestar. Anti-theft light lit on instrument cluster ? Battery good ! How about the battery cables ? Voltage drop test the starting system . Videos on you tube Starter Voltage Drop
Starter System The starting system cranks the engine at a speed fast enough to permit the engine to start.

• Heavy cables, connectors and switches are used because of the large current required by the starter motor (11002) while it cranks the engine.
• The amount of resistance in the starting circuit must be kept to a minimum to provide maximum current for starter motor operation.
• A discharged or damaged battery (10655), loose or corroded connections or partially broken cables will cause slower than normal cranking speeds and may prevent the starter motor from cranking the engine.

The starting system includes:

• the permanent magnet gear-reduction starter motor with a solenoid-actuated drive.
• the battery.
• a starter switch (part of the ignition switch (11572)).
• the transmission range (TR) sensor.
• The TR sensor in the starter control circuit prevents operation of the starter motor unless the selector lever is in NEUTRAL or PARK.
• Starter Relay-Interrupt The starter relay (14N089) interrupt-consists of:
  • pull-in coil and
  • contacts.
  When the ignition switch is in the START position:
  • Current passes through the starterrelay-interrupt from the engine compartment power distribution box to the starter solenoid (11390) .
  • Anti-theft controller module activates relay-interrupt.
  • Pull-in coil in the starter relay-interrupt is activated and pulls the contacts apart.
  The starter relay-interrupt is deactivated when the ignition switch is in the RUN or OFF position.
  

Check Battery, if you try to charge or jump starter you may hear a click. If you're sure its a good charged battery then consider starter. Try to jump starter by passing switch, cross small wire to larger wire on starter (you may get sparks) (please be careful if you try this) this should make the starter spin & kick in turning the engine. If it only spins then its probably the starter solenoid. If this checks out then check ignition switch & harness connections. That's it..

Locate your starter and with the vehicle in park have an assistant hold the key in the crank position while with a test light you check for power at the posts on the starter solenoid. One post shoul have power from the battery, the other from the ignition switch and the other should supply power to the starter motor. Make sure your battery is in good shape and fully charged. If all you get is a click from the solenoid then it's likely that you need a starter. If no power fom battery check battery and positive cable/connection for integrity and tightness. The small post is power from the ignition switch if no power her with the key on the crank position check fuses, park/neutral safety switch and it's related wiring.

Starter Fuse? Possible failed ignition switch. Loose Cables on battery or starter. Starter not grounding properly. Bad starter Relay? Use Voltmeter check voltage going to main starter wire while someone cranks the motor if not power check power to starter relay while cranking if no power suspect ignition switch.

I am guessing that it may be the neutral safety switch

it culd be problem with solinoied switch of starter, or with ignation switch, to find out, when car wont start some one have to check supply at starer solinoid small nut mounted wire, if supply is there then you can go to check if any relay is there before ignation switch if relay is fine you can replace ignation switch.