problems

[damien]

my car wont start. the batterys charged. no lights in the cab. starter wont even begin to turn. head lights work. any advice???

[Pu241]

Need more data!
Year
ATX or manual?
what was the last thing you did to it?
When did it last start OK?
Have you checked fusable links underhood attached to the driverside struct tower?

[damien]

91 manual. stick

[damien]

um it ran yesterday. i tryed push starting it.

[damien]

im not que shure what the fuseal links are?? i chesked the fuses under the hood if thats what ur tlkin about.

[Icedawg]

Fusible link could be it with the cabin lights out.
The cables to the starter, or the ground leads on the engine, or the ground on the battery may be corroded and need cleaning. The starter draws so much more current than anything else, that having headlights does not prove the ground is good. Also, the secondary cable that comes off the positive terminal and supplies the ignition switch and all it does can come loose at the battery.

[damien]

i checked all those wires, cleaned them a lil. still nothing. im not shure if this has any thing to do with it but last night when i would push in the breaks the inside lights would shut off.

[Icedawg]

Put a voltmeter on the lighter wiring that goes to the starter and see if it gets 12 v when you try to crank the starter. See if it makes a difference if the clutch is in or out.

Earlier you said there were no cabin lights, now you say they are on but go off with the brake pedal. That's confusing. But anyhow, so long as you do not have your foot on the brake when trying to start it, that symptom should not stop you from starting. Not sure what it is telling you about what might be wrong though.

[Pu241]

Do you get any sound from the starter at all when trying to start?

When you tried to push start it, what happened?

[damien]

last night it was running, but when i got to my drive way i shut it off and all the cab lights went off. before that they would only go out when i hit the break. when i tryed to push start it it woulden't. it acted like the spark plugs weren't firing. i got no sound from the starter at all when i try to start it.

[damien]

no voltage reader, is there any thing else i can use to check my power to my starter??

[Pu241]

OK!
Can you by pass the starter solenoid to see if you have a functioning starter and a failed solenoid. Use insulated goves and be very careful not to touch any thing else but the terminal oposite from were the Plus(+) cable attaches to the solenoid. Makes sure your car is in neutral and the emergency brake is engaged and you are not standing infront of the car!
But this wouldn't explain the interior light/brake application issue.
But One thing at a time!

[SimonTuffGuy]

I'd say the middle fusible link... Could've blown from a semi-drained battery?

Had it happen to my Festiva... Blew through 5 links in 2 days until I had the battery tested and charged at AutoZone...

Go to the local autoparts store and get one of the big fused, female fuses in 30A... Pull out the wired link and replace with one of these fuses... See if that fixes it.

Mine blew, I had no starter, no interior lights, etc. Headlights will still work because they're on another fusible link by themselves.

[SimonTuffGuy]

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14465

Here's a topic discussing swapping the fusible linked wires over to the cartride style ones...

We can't seem to source a picture of one... So if I remember tonight, I'll snap one of what I'm using. I'd suggest that before going any further in depth... I suspect this will fix your problem.

[damien]

the fuse up by the driver side strut tower isnt blown. is that the one ur tlking about or is there another??