08 Escape won't start after going to the shop… what should I check?

Hey guys, looking for some help. A couple weeks ago, my Escape stopped turning over. It had been inconsistent for a while – sometimes it’d start after a few tries, but once it cranked, it was fine. I took it to the shop, and they said the ignition was the problem, so they replaced it. Everything seemed fine until this morning when I tried to start it again. The dash lights come on, I turn the key, and I just hear a click. The battery is less than a year old, so I don’t think it’s that. Any thoughts on what could be the issue?

Edit: Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I’ll try jumping it tomorrow and hope it’s just the battery. It should still be covered under warranty.

Try jumping it first and then get the battery checked. Hopefully that’s all it is.

Are starter solenoids separate or are they built into the starter now?

August said:
Are starter solenoids separate or are they built into the starter now?

They’re mostly built into the starter these days.

If you’re only getting a click and no cranking, it sounds like a starter motor issue. Like the other user said, checking the battery level is a good idea.

Sam said:
If you’re only getting a click and no cranking, it sounds like a starter motor issue. Like the other user said, checking the battery level is a good idea.

One loud click is usually a bad starter, but rapid clicking is more likely a bad battery.

@Vesper
Hmm, my motorcycle’s battery died recently, and it just did one click when I tried starting it. Not sure what’s going on here.

Soren said:
@Vesper
Hmm, my motorcycle’s battery died recently, and it just did one click when I tried starting it. Not sure what’s going on here.

I can’t speak for motorcycles, but I’m sure about cars. If it’s one click, it could also mean a loose battery terminal or a bad cable, which won’t handle the current properly.

Doesn’t sound like they actually fixed the ignition problem.