02 Ford Mustang Won't start - battery is fine?

I have a 2002 Ford Mustang. Its been running fine, no problems. Yesterday I left the car running with my husband inside while I ran to grab something, when I returned him not realizing it was already started attempted to start the car again, and it died. And wouldn't start up again. I called a dad of my friend who is a mechanic and he said I probably shorted something, to unplug the battery and try again. (we had already tried jumping it with no luck) So as my husband was trying to untwist the battery the lights came on inside the car and we were able to start the car again. We started the car another four times yesterday and this morning no problem. Then I go to leave for work this am and it won't start. The battery is charged, the lights in the car work (although windows won't roll down) and I can hear the starter click, just the engine refuses to start up.

Any ideas what could be the problem? Its at my house and the closest mechanic is a good $200 tow truck away… Any suggestions would be So appreciated!

I have a 2002 Ford Mustang. Its been running fine, no problems. Yesterday I left the car running with my husband inside while I ran to grab something, when I returned him not realizing it was already started attempted to start the car again, and it died. And wouldn't start up again. I called a dad of my friend who is a mechanic and he said I probably shorted something, to unplug the battery and try again. (we had already tried jumping it with no luck) So as my husband was trying to untwist the battery the lights came on inside the car and we were able to start the car again. We started the car another four times yesterday and this morning no problem. Then I go to leave for work this am and it won't start. The battery is charged, the lights in the car work (although windows won't roll down) and I can hear the starter click, just the engine refuses to start up.

Any ideas what could be the problem? Its at my house and the closest mechanic is a good $200 tow truck away… Any suggestions would be So appreciated! Before spending any money attempting to fix what might not be broken, just read this.

If you initially hear a clicking sound when trying to start your vehicle, that's your starter trying to turn over the engine without receiving enough power from the battery.

It doesn't matter if your battery is brand new; if the terminals are dirty inside it won't transfer enough power to start the engine. It will allow the dash lights and radio to work, but not enough power to start the engine.

Your battery terminals can look bright and shiny and you wouldn't even think they could be a problem.

Remove your terminals and look inside them. More often than not, you'll see a dark build up inside them. The dark build up is oxidation which can block most of the current flow to your starter.

Some also assume that since their interior lights work, that their battery is not the problem, it isn't, the terminals are the problem.

It takes just a fraction of the energy to run lights as it does to start an engine.

Here's the fix:

Clean all mating surfaces of your battery cables inside and out. Clean the terminals inside by either using a battery brush (you can get one at any parts store for a couple bucks) or a pocket knife.

First brush off the outer surfaces, remove the terminals and clean the inner surfaces until they're bright and shiny. Now clean the battery posts the same.
(For side mount terminals, brush the exposed surfaces, remove the terminals (negative first) then clean the surfaces that mate to the battery.

All surfaces should be bright and shiny. Reattach cables, tighten them and start your car.

Note: You may need to re charge your battery if it's run down.

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