Mercury Villager, possible NSS problem

[DaveW]

The old 95 Mercury Villager has been acting up on the wife lately.
A few times it just would not start. Usually a few times shifting in and out of park and it will start. No issues after it starts, just starting.
So today after a short drive it does not start again. This time nothing seems to help. I am thinking the NSS may have gone bad.

Are there any other ideas on what it could be?

Does anyone know where is the NSS on this thing?

I'll call the stealer tomorrow and talk to them but the collective knowledge on her could be more help.

 

[DaveW]

Update;
After sitting overnight it started.
Wondering if I have bad starter relay or other circuit that does not work after heating up?

 

[RyanM]

Only after you drive it? Hot soak problem?

 

[DaveW]

No, I have kept it out of the hot tube, but I could use a soak.

Sorry that I did not make it clear that the started does not crank. Now I'll give the long winded description.

Power is always on when the ignition is on.
The two conditions are either the start will crank and it starts or the starter will not crank.
Some times when it does not crank I can move the shifter, in park, and it will then crank. But eventually it will just not crank.
It has been sitting over bight so it did start.
I ran though a few starting scenarios. After each start I turn the key back off within a second or two.
1) after sitting over night as is in park - started
1) leave in park wiggle ignition switch - started
3) shift to neutral - started
4) shift back to park - started
5) shift to reverse - no start
6) shift to park - no start
7) move shifter back and forth in park - started
8) shift to drive - nostart
9) shift to park - nostart
10) move shifter back and forth in park, shift through all gears, wiggle ignition switch - no start

Looked up NSS price at auto parts place on line and noticed that NSS is also the backup light switch.

About 15 minutes later...
11) shift to reverse - no start, backup lights on
12) shift to park - started
13) shift to neutral - started
14) shift to reverse - no start, backup lights on
15) shift to park - no start
16) move shifter back and forth in park - no start
17) Call car and NNS a few names - no start (worth a try)

When I shift into reverse or drive I can hear a buzzing sound. I think it is coming from the trans-axle.

The van does not have an anti-theft device.

 

[DrMoab]

Sell it and buy her a new one.

She deserves it.

 

[DaveW]

I hate intermittent starter problems.

I had time today to trouble shoot it.

When it would start the power looked good. As I was checking the power it went into the no start mode. The starter had power then the key was turned to start. Had the wife hold the key in the start position and gave the starter a couple of whacks. That did it.

Replaced the starter and no problems (yet).

My experience with starters that have dead spots is that they don't just work again after sitting for a time. Not sure why moving the shifter foxed it other times. Oh well, it works now. So she doesn't get a new car. Besides it's newer and has less miles the the jeep.


The starter in my jeep does something similar but only in Moab. Yes, just on trips to Moab over the last three years. Never any other time. Could be a heat thing but it's not always hot there and I've been on other trips where the it's been hot without a problem.