98' Taurus starting problem
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98' Taurus starting problem
I figure someone on here could help me out. I have done an extensive search for a Taurus site with a good forum and found none.
I filled up at the gas station and went to leave but the car would not start. -No fuel pressure- Checked the fuses(ok), switched the relay w/a different one (not sure which one but it had the same part number on it), check the roll over switch and even bypassed it, nothing made any difference. Then my freind showed up and offered to tow me to my house (about 3 miles). We dove the 3 miles and got the strap and was ready to tow it (after about hour and a half of messing with) and I gave it one last try and it started. So I drove back to my house and checked the fuel pressure (30psi). It died once but the pressure never fell below 25psi.For the last few hours or so it has not had a problem starting, but now the turn signals and hazzards don't work.
I just hope anyone can shed some light on this problem or send me to a site where someone can help me. I don't want to end up stranded again. Altho I do have ole "Rusty" but that don't do me any good if I break down 30 miles away.
I filled up at the gas station and went to leave but the car would not start. -No fuel pressure- Checked the fuses(ok), switched the relay w/a different one (not sure which one but it had the same part number on it), check the roll over switch and even bypassed it, nothing made any difference. Then my freind showed up and offered to tow me to my house (about 3 miles). We dove the 3 miles and got the strap and was ready to tow it (after about hour and a half of messing with) and I gave it one last try and it started. So I drove back to my house and checked the fuel pressure (30psi). It died once but the pressure never fell below 25psi.For the last few hours or so it has not had a problem starting, but now the turn signals and hazzards don't work.
I just hope anyone can shed some light on this problem or send me to a site where someone can help me. I don't want to end up stranded again. Altho I do have ole "Rusty" but that don't do me any good if I break down 30 miles away.
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Hey.
It sounds like a fuel pump going to the bad. When it wont start, listen for the fuel pump, real close. See if you hear it cycle. You should hear it run for a few seconds when the key is first turned on. Turn it off, let the car set for a minute then try it again. The 25 psi on the fuel gauge seems a little low. I cant find my book at this sec, but will look later. You can spray a little starting fluid in the air inlet after the air filter and see if get it to start. USE ONLY A LITTLE a short spray or two.
It sounds like a fuel pump going to the bad. When it wont start, listen for the fuel pump, real close. See if you hear it cycle. You should hear it run for a few seconds when the key is first turned on. Turn it off, let the car set for a minute then try it again. The 25 psi on the fuel gauge seems a little low. I cant find my book at this sec, but will look later. You can spray a little starting fluid in the air inlet after the air filter and see if get it to start. USE ONLY A LITTLE a short spray or two.
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You can hear it turn on when it starts but when it did not start the fuel pump was not working. I was thinking maybe some other problem since it started working again. Do fuel pumps work intermittantly? Like I mentioned above now my hazzards and turn signals don't work either, So that's why I'm a little confused. Oh and I did try some starting fluid and it run a little and VERY badly.
Last edited by StorminMarv; Feb 28, 2004 at 07:23 PM.
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Yes the fuel pumps can be do this. You did the relay swap, that was a good move. I think if you could cary a fuel pressure tester in the car, you would find little fuel pressure or none when the car would not start.
The turn signal, hazard switch most likely on the fritz. Are the fuses ok, i think you have two seperate flashers for the turn sig, and Haz.
The turn signal, hazard switch most likely on the fritz. Are the fuses ok, i think you have two seperate flashers for the turn sig, and Haz.
Hotshot
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From: BC, Canada
Next time it does it give the bottom of the gas tank a whack with a big screwdriver handle or a piece of wood or something. Quite often that will get it running so you can get it to the shop to replace the pump.
bosshoss have you seen a lot of bad fuel pumps lately? We've had a rash of dead Focuses (Focii?) lately with dead pumps. And now Ford has come out with the stupid TSB saying that if you have a 01 or 02 Focus with almost any driveability problem you are to replace the pump without checking anything else. Stooopid.
bosshoss have you seen a lot of bad fuel pumps lately? We've had a rash of dead Focuses (Focii?) lately with dead pumps. And now Ford has come out with the stupid TSB saying that if you have a 01 or 02 Focus with almost any driveability problem you are to replace the pump without checking anything else. Stooopid.
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Hey Racerguy.
We have gone through quit a few pumps in our fleet of F-150's.
But to be fair to Ford, our trucks do a lot of idleing, and every 5K miles we use a fuel system cleaner which might speed up the problem.
We have gone through quit a few pumps in our fleet of F-150's.
But to be fair to Ford, our trucks do a lot of idleing, and every 5K miles we use a fuel system cleaner which might speed up the problem.
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Hey StorminMarv.
I looked up the fuel pressure. The book said for a 1996-2000. You should have about 26-45 psi with the motor running. With the key on, engine off you should have about 37-45psi.
For a 2001 car it should be 50-60 PSI engine running. 45-56 engine off. Thats what my book said per word. I think the second one might be backwords.
I looked up the fuel pressure. The book said for a 1996-2000. You should have about 26-45 psi with the motor running. With the key on, engine off you should have about 37-45psi.
For a 2001 car it should be 50-60 PSI engine running. 45-56 engine off. Thats what my book said per word. I think the second one might be backwords.
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The Haynes book has a test or check you can do on the MFS, thats multi function switch.
that you can do to test it. Try to wiggle, or play with the hazard switch and see if you can make things work. If they do, its most likely a bad switch. Keep us posted.
that you can do to test it. Try to wiggle, or play with the hazard switch and see if you can make things work. If they do, its most likely a bad switch. Keep us posted.
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From: WEST TEXAS
StorminMarv; Check fuel pressure at static idle & then check it at
about 1500 rpm or 2K rpm if it is dropping off badly at this point I
would replace the fuel pump, the other thing to do before you check the pressures again is change the fuel filter first, a severly restricted fuel filter will cause some wild problems. Now as far as the hazzards & other lights bosshoss is correct in saying to look at the hazzard switch, on my lincoln [the sister car to the taurus]
I had the same problem, this is how I solved the probelm first I
removed the switch from the steering coloum & cleaned it out with electrical parts cleaner & then let it dry completly upside down, on my vehicle the high beams were not working with this same symptom also. Just a little FYI the on the wiring system of
most vehicles the hazzard system is a primary wired system.
keep us informed
turbo ted
about 1500 rpm or 2K rpm if it is dropping off badly at this point I
would replace the fuel pump, the other thing to do before you check the pressures again is change the fuel filter first, a severly restricted fuel filter will cause some wild problems. Now as far as the hazzards & other lights bosshoss is correct in saying to look at the hazzard switch, on my lincoln [the sister car to the taurus]
I had the same problem, this is how I solved the probelm first I
removed the switch from the steering coloum & cleaned it out with electrical parts cleaner & then let it dry completly upside down, on my vehicle the high beams were not working with this same symptom also. Just a little FYI the on the wiring system of
most vehicles the hazzard system is a primary wired system.
keep us informed
turbo ted
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I want to thank you guys for giving me some good information.
I will replace the fuel filter this weekend and then check the pressure (I didn't think it could be the filter because it only did it a couple of times and I thought it would be a full time no work situation. But I'm no expert either). Hopefully that is the problem.
As for the hazard and turn signals, the signals are working again but the hazard it still out, so SOMETING is loose, dirty, or broke.
Once again I really want to thank you for all the good info.
I will inform all of you of my findings this weekend.
I will replace the fuel filter this weekend and then check the pressure (I didn't think it could be the filter because it only did it a couple of times and I thought it would be a full time no work situation. But I'm no expert either). Hopefully that is the problem.
As for the hazard and turn signals, the signals are working again but the hazard it still out, so SOMETING is loose, dirty, or broke.
Once again I really want to thank you for all the good info.
I will inform all of you of my findings this weekend.
Last edited by StorminMarv; Mar 3, 2004 at 08:07 PM.
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Well guys, It still hasn't had any problems since the first time it did it. I changed the fuel filter and it did not seem too bad. I bought a chiltons and a haynes manual and ran the checks they both mentioned and everything checked out. As for the turn signal I have not had the will to check that out yet but they are still worknig also.