Wednesday the SCQueen noted starting troubles. Suspecting the battery was dying, she took it to the vendor who pronouced it "Healthy! The battery isn't your problem."
We talked about it over dinner "What else would he say? He just doesn't want to replace the battery under warranty!".
Attempting to start brings silence, no "clack" of the solenoid engaging. Later we monitor battery voltage under the same conditions. This time it fired, but battery voltage only sagged to 11.5V. Conclusion, it's not the battery! Not hearing the starter solinoid fire, I figure the starter has given up the ghost. In the old days we could replace the solinoid for a sawbuck, or even the entire starter for < $50. But Ford buried the started under a whole bunch of other stuff. So what I could have fixed for $40 30 years ago, now costs me >$700 because of access issues. And because today's forecast called for 113F OAT, What's it worth to you now?
SCQueen emails our trusted shop with our discoveries. Next AM, no start so she calls AAA. AAAGuy says "it's your battery." She explains, we checked it twice, it's not the battery." Ok, but let me try to jump it first. SCQueen "Have at it, as long as it doesn't cost me anything". AAAGuy tries... and proclaims "It's not your battery:-("
She maturely withheld the "told ya!" and let him load up the SCQueen-mobile
Seven bills later she has a new starter and an oil change. Life is goo. Did I mention todays high temp hit 114F. What would you pay to not spend > 4 hours in the garage today? Seven bills is a fair price!
** The vehicle is of brand F and around 9 years old with just short of 200k miles. The only real problem we notice is the radio display is invisible in daylight. I can't fault them with an OEM starter failing after ~9 years and almost 200k miles. I can live with that.
Update Ides of July 2019...
The "oil" light had been coming on since the maintenance.... The Oil Light most often is a pressure sensor.. Odd it's not been a problem until we have the oil changed.
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