Starter and startic is working but the engine wont crank

no year car or country told (sad-face) first one 2001.
introduced in 1980 this engine GAS, 16 v. 2.0L DOHC


is the starter motor dead silent? or clicks or chatters
head lamps dead or dim key on and off.
IP cluster works, key on ?all lamp s there dead, as the worked for 20 years?
keyon heater blower fan blows? even head lamps on too.?
we can hear your starter motor to know if it even tries to spin the engine, so am forced to guess.
bad starter is like 5 problems and unrelated to
50 engine problems, once the starter and crank shift spins/
tell all evidence. for far better answer.

if starter is dead, crank it this time not in PARK but in NEUTRAL
for sure stranded this is first.

Starter Voltage Drop

Starter relay ? Transmission range switch ? IS battery voltage getting to the starter solenoid S terminal ?

How to voltage drop test starter motor circuit

Free wiring diagrams here http://www.bbbind.com/free-tsb Enter vehicle info. year , make , model an engine . Under system click on engine ,then under subsystem click on starting .

Starter
When the ignition switch is moved to the RUN position, battery voltage is applied to one side of the Crank Relay in the underhood accessory wiring junction block through circuit 3, the PCM-BCM Fuse in the fuse block, and circuit 439. When the ignition switch is turned to START, voltage is fed to the powertrain control module connector C2 terminal 23 through circuit 5, the CRANK SIGNAL Fuse in the fuse block, and circuit 806 through the underhood accessory wiring junction block. Power is always provided from the CRANK MaxiFuse in the underhood accessory wiring junction block to the common side of the Crank Relay contacts. When the powertrain control module sees the crank signal and determines that conditions are OK for a crank, it supplies ground through circuit 625 to the Crank Relay. The Crank Relay now has both power and ground to the relay coil, causing the relay to pull in. When this happens, and the gear selector is in either PARK or NEUTRAL, the power at the relay common contact is passed through the normally open contact , circuit 1737, the transaxle range switch and circuit 6 to the S terminal on the starter solenoid.

I can't help much w/o year--make--model? Do you have a security system on this vehicle?
Most starters have two voltage circuits, one comes from the battery, hot all the time. The other circuit goes hot with key in the start position, may be wired through neutral switch, depending on the tranny, maybe you have a starter relay? The starter motor usually grounds through the engine block. The fact you can jump the starter motor and it cranks, sounds like the ground is ok. Use a test light, check for voltage on those two voltage terminals. Make sure tranny is out of gear and parking brake is set.
Some makes and models have shift-interlock, you can't shift it unless you step on the brake. Do the brake lites work? If not fix that first.
Some makes and models have a shift-interlock bypass button so you can press the button, then shift into neutral. Parking brake set.

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.
  

Does the starter engage again when you go back to park ?
Shifting from park to drive would cut the circuit from the key switch to the starter. The neutral safety switch prevents you from cranking the engine in drive or reverse.
I would say the key switch is not turning off power to the starter when you go from start to run.

Possible defective starter motor. Try tapping on starter motor with a blunt object ( if accessible ) while holding the key in the crank position. If the engine starts, the starter motor is bad. If it doesn't, you will have to check for start power at the starter directly. Possible starter motor/starter relay/ wiring/ignition switch etc

Scan the car for fault codes. When my 535 died like that, it was the crank position sensor.

If you are saying the engine will not crank, try it in neutral instead of park.
The neutral safety switch could be faulty, or you could have a problem with the starter solenoid on the starter.

If u hear the engine cranking in the AM, the batt & alt sound good. If you don't get any engine cranking in the am you may have an electrical short draining the battery. Before u convict the starter u must make sure the battery has full power in the AM. (12V) & 12 V to the starter

To be sure it isn't seized up try to turn the engine over by hand ! Get a socket that fits the crankshaft bolt . 1/2 drive an a breaker bar , you can buy them at a parts store . Me i prefer craftsman . If it spinnes it's not seized , then you need to look at the electrical part of . Do you know how to test automotive electrical circuits ? Voltage drop testing , how to use a DVOM - digital volt ohm meter ? Do you know the componets in the starting circuit ? Starter of course , PNP - park neutral position switch , starter relay , Heavy gage battery cable to the starter , control wire to the S terminal on the starter solenoid .
How to voltage drop test starter motor circuit