Bronco Nation

96 Bronco Won't Start

Sgt_n00btube
May 25, 2022

Rank 0

May 25, 2022

I have a 96 Bronco with the 5.8, when I turn the ignition nothing happens. I have replaced the Starter Solinoid and Starter switch (under the steering column) and it still won't start with the key, but when I put a screw driver to the Solinoid the car starts right up. I was going to change the Starter, but the guy at Autozone said that if the Starter was bad then I wouldn't be able to use the screwdriver trick. Any thoughts on what it could be?
Last edited by a moderator: May 25, 2022

Rank VI

May 25, 2022

#1
Not fully in Park or Neutral (bad neutral switch) is my WAG
Member # 5650 / 2022 Bronco Sport Badlands
Hpr367, PSUTE

Rank 0

May 26, 2022

#2
Well I changed the neutral switch and still won't start with the key D:

Rank VI

May 26, 2022

#3
My next guess is the ignition switch, but I was hoping you didn't have to go there :(
Member # 5650 / 2022 Bronco Sport Badlands
Sgt_n00btube

Rank 0

May 26, 2022

#4
I have changed the ignition switch already.

Rank VI

May 26, 2022

#5
Those are my go to's. Hopefully someone has a better idea than I
Member # 5650 / 2022 Bronco Sport Badlands
Sgt_n00btube

Rank V

May 26, 2022

#6
If it's not at the beginning or the end, may be the wire in between...
'21 AMB Basesquatch 2 Door. 2.7. 569 days from reservation to delivery
Sgt_n00btube

No Ragerts

May 26, 2022

#7
Smells like the ECU to me…
- 2023 Raptor / Shadow Black / MGV (DOB 8/30/23)
- 2023 Heritage Limited Edition / Robin’s Egg Blue / 4dr / (stolen from my dealer 11/15/23)

Rank 0

May 27, 2022

#8
So....You all are going to laugh...I decided to check the battery on the off chance that it wasn't giving out enough power (I bought the battery 5 months ago so I didn't think to check the battery) and my charger showed 0.3 Volts....I left it on the charger overnight and when I checked it this morning and it was 0.1 Volts! Looks like I'll be going to Costco for a new battery.
Deano Bronc, ChuckO

Rank VI

May 27, 2022

#9
You still might have a starter issue. Sometimes the Bendix gear, the little gear thingy that kicks out to catch the flywheel. (i might be wrong on the name, that just what my Granddad called it.) might have a solenoid issue that causes a strain on your battery. It stays open and thinks it is engaging you starter, even when you are not. I found on the old Army truck that I worked on that it would still allow us to jump the starter wire to get it to kick in, but the starter switch was useless. I also could be completely off base and as wrong as a $3! Let us know how this turns out.
Sgt_n00btube

Rank VI

May 27, 2022

#10
Would not have guessed battery because you were able to hotwire it. But I should have guessed, because often the battery is the root to all evil
Member # 5650 / 2022 Bronco Sport Badlands
Sgt_n00btube

Rank V

May 27, 2022

#11
Sgt_n00btube
So....You all are going to laugh...I decided to check the battery on the off chance that it wasn't giving out enough power (I bought the battery 5 months ago so I didn't think to check the battery) and my charger showed 0.3 Volts....I left it on the charger overnight and when I checked it this morning and it was 0.1 Volts! Looks like I'll be going to Costco for a new battery.
That was my original thought, but I just assumed... haha. My '88 died mid freeway when dropping off some friends at the airport. Dead alternator. Don't forget to check that, that's quite possibly the problem, not the battery
Sgt_n00btube

Slickrock withdraws

May 27, 2022

#12
Sgt_n00btube
Well I changed the neutral switch and still won't start with the key D:
Is the switch properly adjusted?
2 Dr BL MGV High 2.3 Auto SAS MIC Tow....
7/13/20 res 1/21/21 order
Got my VIN 9/30.....Build week 11/15 Delivered 1/14/22
Sgt_n00btube

Rank 0

May 27, 2022

#13
So I watched a few videos and I feel like I adjusted it properly. But once I change out the battery we'll see if it works.
ChuckO, Sven

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