Last night I tried to start my car, nothing. I was facing just a little downhill. After a few tries the car started normally. While driving home it died everytime I went down a hill. If I could get to a level or uphill spot it started and ran normally. This sounds like a loose connection somehwere but I've no idea where to start. I guess I'll replace both battery cables tomorrow and see what that does. Any other suggestions?

Nothing has been done recently, and it's been running fine. I have 75k on it.

thanks

Last night I tried to start my car, nothing. I was facing just a little downhill. After a few tries the car started normally. While driving home it died everytime I went down a hill. If I could get to a level or uphill spot it started and ran normally. This sounds like a loose connection somehwere but I've no idea where to start. I guess I'll replace both battery cables tomorrow and see what that does. Any other suggestions?

Nothing has been done recently, and it's been running fine. I have 75k on it.

thanks

Could you elaborate on what you mean by "nothing?" Did the engine crank, but not start? Did you hear clicking, but the engine didn't crank? Did the lights on the instrument panel illuminate? Did the power windows work? Did the radio work?

If you haven't replaced the battery cables yet, make sure the cables are clean and tight. You may need to remove the cable connectors from the battery posts to make sure the connections are clean, not just that they "look" clean. Also, make sure the battery is mounted correctly and not moving around. Make sure the battery is the correct battery for your car.

-Rod

I thought I already replied to this?
I would check the battery cables and altenator first, then I would move unto the fuel delivery system and if not luck then I would start suspecting the oil pump or an engine sensor such your Harmonic Balancer or Crankshaft sensor.

Sorry I wasn't more specific. The dash lights come on, the headlights work, but when I turn the key there's no noise at all, no click no crank etc. When it died i can't remember if the headlights stayed on or not. I do know that the flashers were working because I turned them off, and the idiot lights on the dash were on. It died when i was going downhill and after I got to a level surface the car restarted and ran fine the rest of the way home. I haven't had time to look at it but tomorrow I'm tackling the cables.

ok, well my first mistake was to wait til sunday to find out that the cables are still a dealer part. But I cleaned all the connections on the existing ones and it seems, to be better. It starts, and I've driven it around the block up and down hills and right now it's sitting facing downhill in the driveway. Which, historically, is when it won't start. One thing that bothered me when I started it the first time after the cable cleaning was the fuel pump made it's start up noise but wouldn't stop, and the car didn't start. After I turned the key off and tried it again the pump worked properly and the car has started every time since. I wouldn't think a fuel pump problem would cause it not to crank, but maybe this is a symptom of a problem in the power dist box, which I've had trouble with for a while. So far the wiper relay has gone out, the fuel pump relay has gone out and both were in the same area of that box. thanks

I was wrong it's not fixed. When I turn the key on I can hear the fuel pump come on, but usually it shuts off after af ew seconds, this no longer happens. it just keeps running and the car won't crank. If I hear it shut off the car is going to start. If it keeps running the car won't even turn over. No cel at this point.

Sounds like a faulty fuel pump :-p
The fuel injectors are weird on newer cars they might not kick in unless properly pressurized.

I replaced the fuel pump relay and it ran fine, for a couple of weeks. Now it won't start again. I guess it is the fuel pump. I don't suppose there is any way out of draining the full tank of gas and dropping the tank is there? I'd think they'd make the pump more accessible than that. But I've been wrong before.

I had a 89 Taurus Wagon that did the same thing, only I had the additional luxury of the pump sending a bad signal to the fuel gauge as to how full the tank realy wasn't. Anyway, a new fuel pump cured the problem. Good Luck.