NHTSA Complaint #729630 — 1989 MERCURY SABLE

THIS IS A SECOND IDENTICAL INCIDENT DURING THE LAST 2 YEARS. WHEN STARTING THE CAR THE STARTER RELAY GOT STUCK AND CONTINUED TO CRANK THE ENGINE EVEN AFTER TAKING THE KEY OUT OF IGNITION. I STOPPED IT BY DICONNECTING THE BATTERY, BUT MEANWHILE THE BATTERY STARTED BOILING AND LEAKING. THE INCIDENT OCCURED 4-5 TIMES DURING 3 DAYS. I REPLACED THE STARTER RELAY AND THE BATTERY. AFTER THIS, THE INCIDENT OCCURED ONLY ONE MORE TIME, ABOUT 5 DAYS AFTER THE STARTER RELAY WAS REPLACED. THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURED FOR THE FIRST TIME TWO YEARS BEFORE (1998), WITH THE ORIGINAL STARTER RELAY. I THAT TIME I REPLACED THE RELAY, AND FOR 2 YEARS EVERYTING SEEMD OK. THIS IS A MATTER OF CONCERN BECAUSE IT ALSO HAPPENED WITH A NEW STARTER RELAY INSTALLED, WHICH SEEMS TO INDICATE SOME OTHER PROBLEM IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM.