Troubleshoot the Ignition System in a Mercury Villager

Troubleshoot the Ignition System in a Mercury Villager

Troubleshoot the Ignition System in a Mercury Villager : Multi-thousand tips to make your life easier.

A Mercury Villager is a minivan from Ford Motors that was produced beginning in 1993, and its last generation was released to the market in 2002. Because these minivans are relatively old, owners may begin to experience problems with their vehicles, including issues with the ignition system. If you are having trouble starting the engine, try to troubleshoot the problem yourself before taking your vehicle to a mechanic. To learn how to do this yourself, read the steps below.

• Prepare your minivan. Park your vehicle in a safe spot and keep the engine off throughout the inspection. Turn it on only when testing the ignition.
• Know what the ignition system is. Before you begin troubleshooting, you need to know what the ignition system is and what to look for. The ignition system is responsible for igniting the vehicle’s fuel. It is activated when you turn the key to start the engine. Ignition systems vary by vehicle model and make, but common components include the spark plug, distributor cap, and rotor.
• Check the steering wheel. Although the steering wheel is not a regular component of an ignition system, the ignition can be disabled if the steering wheel is locked. Often, when one parks on an inclined surface, the front wheels are turned to the sides to avoid backing up. Gently turn the steering wheel left and right as you try turning the key to start the vehicle.
• Check the spark plug. If you are having trouble starting your vehicle, you might want to start by looking at the spark plug. Measure the amount of “spark” it generates by checking the resistance of the wire. Get an ohmmeter, available from electronics stores, and use it for this test. Take the wire connected between the spark plug and the distributor cap. Connect each end of the wire to the ohmmeter. The ohmmeter should read between 4,000 and 5,000 ohms. Place the wire back in place.
• Inspect the distributor cap and the rotor. Check if they have any holes or rust. If any are observed, have them replaced. You should be able to get replacements from most car parts stores.
• Check the ignition coil. Measure the resistance in the coil by connecting it to the ohmmeter, similar to how you measured the resistance of the spark plug. Disconnect the negative battery wire, and attach the ohmmeter to the first two pins. The measured resistance should be only around 1 ohm.
• Have the battery checked. In some cases, failure to start the engine is caused by a drained or dead car battery. Depending on usage, batteries last only about two years. If the battery is dead, have it replaced. But if your battery is still new, you can try to have it charged. Make sure all the lights are turned off as you leave your car to avoid draining the battery.

If you have completed the above steps but are still having problems with your vehicle, bring your Mercury Villager to a mechanic.