(04 ford explorer xlt) left lights on for about 1-2 hours without noticing. car wouldn't start of course. tried jump starting it. it only cranked over 3 times. then after that it just wouldn't do anything not even make a sound. took starter off and tested it and it worked fine. bought a new ignition relay and it still wouldn't do anything. jump started the starter with a screw driver and ignition on and all it did was just crank but wouldn't start. please help!!!

Anti theft will stop it from starting. Try locking and unlocking the drivers door with the key to reset .

Is your car parked outside the garage?If yes,try park inside and see any difference.

It might be your anti-theft alarm system. When the car doesn't start, is there a ticking sound inside the car? If so, hit the unlock button a few times on your keyless entry remote, until the ticking stops, then try to start the car. Hopefully this helps.

Appears to be a cranking isuue. Ford uses a starter relay an normally mounte under hood on left fender.. Battery + cable will ytake yo to it. Nake sure vehicle is in park or neutral. The relay has two large posts. momentarily jump the two and see if it cranks. If it does, Momentarily jump the post from the battery to the small post that has a push on wire connectorr. SShould crank that small wire is the one energize when you turn the key. Ck the wire for current if t he engine cranks in bith of your jumo tests. Good Luck -Ned

If you have the proper voltage at the starter, (battery voltage) and the starter won't turn, it is the starter or the engine. Try turning the engine over with a wrench on the harmonic balancer.

Replace the MAF sensor. The starter is overheating due to cranking excessively. It has noyhing to do with the engine staying running. The MAF sensor is located as the first sensor out of air cleaner. It controls the fuel. Good luck and have a safe trip.

2 things
1 starter is bad its located on the driver side of the engine beside the oil pan. 3 bolts and 2 electrical connections

2 bad battery cables. i have replaced a lot of battery cables on these they let enough power through to get a click but not enough to start the engine. this cable is a special cable only available through ford or you can make 1 yourself

OOPS dealer only ,Try opening and closing door lock three times drivers side 10 sec interval between clicks then try starting if no go then dealer only

have the battery tested, u are not describing a lack of fuel problem, u either have a defective battery or a corroded positive battery cable, that is very comm on on your year and model, I am a Ford dealer tech so I know what is going on with these explorers, it is seldom a fuel pump concern, the slow or no crank is the key factor here.