If your 2002 Ford Escape begins to have problems starting, you could save money by troubleshooting the problem yourself instead of paying a mechanic. Once you have diagnosed the problem, you can determine whether the cause is something that you can fix yourself, or if you will need to have it repaired by a qualified automotive technician. There are several common starting problems that you can check for before calling a mechanic.
Examine the car's fuse box for blown fuses that are directly related to the ignition and starter. Refer to the diagram on the fuse box for the location of each fuse and replace if necessary.
Look for heavy corrosion on the battery terminals and loose battery cable connections. Corrosion should be cleaned with a wire brush on both the battery terminals and the cable connectors. Use a wrench to secure the cables tightly to the terminals.
Turn the ignition to the "On" position. Look for any warning lights on the dashboard that would indicate a problem, such as low fuel or oil lights.
Turn the headlights on. If the headlights or other exterior or interior lights are unusually dim, this could indicate that the battery has insufficient charge to start the car.
Crank the engine and listen for unusual sounds. Rapid clicking could indicate a bad starter. Any loud knocks, squeals or grinding sounds could indicate a larger problem, and should be diagnosed and repaired by a qualified technician.
