Hi, I have a 93 taurus 3.0 auto that is very difficult to get running each day but runs fine rest of the day. I've owned the car 1 & 1/2 years. I had to have a new coil installed 6-9 months ago. Recently it would crank and run for a minute then start surging and stall. It would turn over, pop and spit, and either not crank or if it did crank it would cut in and out severely enough you couldn't drive it. I tried driving it while it was surging and acting up a couple of times and it would progressively get worse and smoke would start coming from under the hood but I couldn't tell where from. The temp guage was showing normal. I can leave it sit for 1/2 hour to an hour and it will crank and run fine for the rest of the day. It has reached the point to where I can't get the car to run at all until I attempt to crank it for 10 minutes and then come back 1/2 hr to an hour later. Then it will crank and run fine the rest of the day. I've tried water remover in case it was moisture. That was 2 tanks ago. The check engine light comes on sometimes when it is acting up but not when it is running right. I am perplexed at how well it runs after it starts running right each day. I'm afraid to take it to a dealer where they will start replacing parts that may need replacing but not be the parts that fix the problem. I'm hoping someone has seen this problem and remember what was wrong. Thanks in advance for any help.
Rick

Welcome to the forum!

Since you mention the Check Engine Light (CEL) has come on, have you checked the stored codes? On your '93, you can do this with a paperclip and your CEL. There is an article on About.com on how to do this, and the process has been posted to this forum a few times as well.

Also, I'd suggest you check the fuel pressure when the car is being difficult to start. With that age of vehicle and the symptoms you describe, it wouldn't surprise me if the fuel pump is starting to fail. It is a DC motor mounted inside the fuel tank. To replace the pump, the fuel tank needs to be dropped from the car and the pump replaced from the top of the tank. There is no access door under the rear seat to do this either.

-Rod

I had a Mustang had to replace the pump in the gas tank and it is not a hard job but run nearly all the gas out before you start. There's a filter that goes over the intake on the pump and make sure one comes with it or buy a new one. I bought a rebuild pump and not a problem. Way I knew mine was going bad it started making a howling-whining noise. Gas wieghs approx 8 pounds per gal so it's not a one man job anyway. Fuel filter in the gas line should be replaced every 30K miles.

Thanks for the replies. I tried a new fuel filter with no luck. I replaced the fuel pump and back up and running.

Thanks for the replies. I tried a new fuel filter with no luck. I replaced the fuel pump and back up and running. Good deal and that's what we all like to hear. At least the pump doesn't just quit and leave you stranded which is a good thing. :p Hang out with us here and next time someone comes along with a problem like yours you can tell 'em how to fix it. :grinyes: You know, . . . I was thinking, . . . that pump was in there 15 years and I wonder how many thousand galons of gas it pumped? Let's see, . . you put 10K mi on it a year at 20 MPG that's 500 gals per year X 15 years. Hmmm, . . I come up with 7,500 gals. That's a 18 wheeler tanker trailer and a half so I'd say you got your moneys worth out of it.