Hello! I hope someone can help me on here. I have a 2002 Montero Limited that won’t start. I replaced the starter and ignition switch. Battery is new and I’ve checked the fuses and relays. Nothing seems to want to work. The starter will turn the motor over but it’s really weak. And if by chance it does start, there is a grinding sound coming from the starter like it isn’t disengaging after start up. Am I missing a relay or fuse? I’ve heard some of these have starter relays hidden in the center dash but I don’t know where it would be if there is one. Any ideas are appreciated! Thank you

 

Is this an Auto, or a Manual 5 Speed tranny?

The Manual tranny will have a starter relay behind the radio on one side......at least on the 90s Monteros. The Auto does not have this dash relay.

When you replaced the starter, I assume it came with a new Solenoid attached to it?

If it is a new starter/solenoid and new battery, and it turns over very weakly, then you may have a bad battery cable from the Positive of the battery to the Starter. Or, it could be a corroded ground from the Battery Negative to the engine block and to the fender ground.

I would also mention the Park/Neutral Safety Switch that only allows it to start in Park or Neutral.....but you are saying it is getting a weak crank. The P/N Safety switch would tend to totally stop the circuit and not allow any juice to get to the starter.

 

thank you for your help! It is an automatic transmission. I fiddled with the P/N switch yesterday making sure it was lined up where it needed to be. Could it have been part of the problem where the starter doesn’t disengage?

new starter did come with the solenoid. And it seems to be working. I’ve taken it in to be tested twice now. I will get those wires checked this afternoon.

does anyone have a wiring diagram for these? Or knows where all of these connections are at for the wiring harness?

 

Slhave you checked voltage and voltagevdrop at the starter? It sounds like the big battery cable might be damaged. Redulting in not enough power distributed to the starter. This is especially likely, since you say engine turns, but slowly

 

I agree with Hunter. Also, the Negative cable may not be getting a good connection where it grounds to the engine and the sheet metal on the inner fender......try removing those nuts and cleaning those connection points. You could experiment by taking a jumper cable and connecting one end to the negative battery, and take the other end and clamp it someplace close to where the starter bolts to the engine......this may give you a good ground and allow the starter to crank when you turn the key.

You might try the same thing with the Positive battery terminal......take a jumper cable and connect here, and then take the other end (being careful not to hit any metal and sending sparks everywhere) and tap on the Solenoid terminal where the factory ground wire is bolted........if the solenoid/starter work, then it may be a bad poisitve cable (or one of the solenoids between the ignition key and the solenoid (Park/neutral switch, etc.). If nothing happens when you tap the Solenoid with the jumper cable, try tapping the Starter itself (where the wire from solenoid connects to starter).......if that makes the starter move, then it would seem that the solenoid is bad.

I hate electrical problems.......

 

Are there more solenoids in between the ignition switch and the starter solenoid?

 

There is the Park/Neutral Safety switch which probably is attached to the top side of your tranny, but I am not sure if there is a solenoid in front of that. There is probably another solenoid between the ignition key switch and the starter solenoid, but I am not sure.

Have you been able to find an electrical schematic for this 02 yet?

 

I checked the safety switch and made sure it was in the right place. I’ve only been able to find ‘03-06 or the Montero Sport. But I assume the ‘03 is the same as the ‘02 since they are gen 3 right?

 

Yep, the 03 should be the same as the 02.

Did you try holding the ignition key in the "start" position while placing your foot on the brake and moving the Auto selector from Park to R to N To D? Does it make any difference when you do this......does the starter suddenly start cranking?

 

I spent the last few days really cleaning all the connections and grounds and it started finally but it’s still spotty and the starter still didn’t disengage. I did hear a clicking coming from the passenger side kick panel so I removed it and found a mouse nest 🙄 cleaned that up and found some connections and I think some relays. I know that the ecu is right there but I can’t figure out these others.


this is the ecu if I’m not mistaken ^