My car started by itself. I don't know why. I don't have a remote starter.How can this be? I have a 94 Lincoln Town car. I think it could possibly be the computer in the car. The mechanic said it wasn't the starter, although I got a new one today. The car started all byitself and no one was'nt anywhere near the car because I live in the Country and my neighbors live far away. Help?
2006-11-06 12:18:43 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Lincoln
Sounds like it's possessed dude .... but it could be worse ... it could be ......wait for it
Repossessed :)
2006-11-06 12:21:12 · answer #1 · answered by deadkelly_1 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Several things can cause this as modern cars have more and more "stuff" in the circuit for the starters. For instance along with the solenoid that has been mentioned before, there is usually a "starter relay". That can stick or activate on it's own from warped contacts and heat, etc. Also the ignition switch can make contact as well as the contacts get worn and can come close enough to each other to make connection. Skinned or pinched wires on any of these can do this too and also the starter itself can do it. Particularly some of the "discount" parts store starters as they often don't change out wiring when rebuilding. You didn't mention if it continued to keep "grinding" on until you removed the battery, or whether the car simply started and then kept running without the starter engaged similar to you cranking it yourself. We had a Hyundai Sonata that did this and turned out to actually a shorted wire leading to the starter solenoid that would touch the "hot wire" and engage the starter. Scared the heck out of us at the shop as this was not the problem the car came in for Just happened to us after we had pulled the car into the yard and it was waiting to be check out with the hood up. Needless to say we were amazed ourselves. :-)
2006-11-09 09:39:07 · answer #2 · answered by mohavedesert 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On a dark night, take the coil wire off the distributor, or whaterver hot lead.
Then start shaking wires; under the hood, near the firewall, under the dash. Look for sparks.
Just because you don't have a remote starter, doesn't mean the car is not equipped. You may have got a used car that is equipped, but you don't know it.
A stray transmission may activate it, or a short in the wiring. Check to see if the hood has an interlock. Remote start systems are supposed to be interlocked so they don't start with the hood open.
Two things have to happen for the car to start. The ignition has to be turned on, and the starter has to be engaged (and disengaged once running. It would be very rare that two shorts cause this. It has to be a remote start system.
2006-11-06 20:31:18 · answer #3 · answered by mt_hopper 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This has happened to many cars I have had the misfortune of working on. Tracing down the problem has always been a pain. The most common cause is an igntion switch with a broken internal contact. Change the ignition switch.
Just for ducks, and this really happened. Look under the dash for a rats nest -- yes I know the wiring looks like a rats nest -- but I mean a real rodent type rats nest. One of the cars I worked on the radio kept coming on by itself and we couldn't find the problem until we took the radio out and found a rats nest behind it and he was chewing the wiring up supplying power to the radio that had been left on (old style on/off switch type radio)
2006-11-10 13:36:41 · answer #4 · answered by .*. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you didn't buy the car new the previous owner could have installed something along the line of remote starter or some sort of timer. If not that then a short in the electrical system that touched the correct wires and activated the starter. Short of that you just imagine it there is no logical explanation if you really feel strongly about it you could research the history of the car, good luck.
2006-11-07 07:02:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This happens every now and then and it will often make the news as something gets destroyed by it. I had a friend who's car did this and no one ever figured out why. The best guess anyone could get is some kind of short circuit between the starter wiring and the ignition switch. Although we never knew for sure.
Good luck finding the cause as unless you want to spend a fortune looking for it you may never know.
2006-11-06 20:24:17 · answer #6 · answered by my_iq_135 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There has to be a short in the wiring, maybe in the steering column. I've been around cars all my life and have not heard of one starting itself! That is pretty wild!
2006-11-06 20:21:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe a chip in the computer part of the engine, or a squirrel hot wired your town car.
2006-11-06 20:20:35 · answer #8 · answered by cruisingalong 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ghost
2006-11-06 20:38:22 · answer #9 · answered by m_007jr 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She was born in Detroit… on an automobile assembly line. But she is no ordinary automobile. Deep within her chassis lives an unholy presence. She is Christine – a red and white 1958 Plymouth Fury whose unique standard equipment includes an evil, indestructible vengeance that will destroy anyone in her way. She seduces 17-year-old Arnie Cunningham (KEITH GORDON), who becomes consumed with passion for her sleek, rounded, chrome-laden body. She demands his complete and unquestioned devotion and when outsiders seek to interfere, they become the victims of Christine’s horrifying wrath. Based on the book by Stephen King
2006-11-06 20:22:35 · answer #10 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I had one do that once and still don't know why but whenever I shut it off the horn started blowing as soon as I went into the house. I went out to disconnect the horn but it wasn't connected. I will never know why but we got rid of that car.
2006-11-06 20:22:04 · answer #11 · answered by TALIA H 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋