Ford Taurus 97 OHV 3.0 GL Startup takes too long

Burl2 · 09-28-2007, 07:56 PM

I have been driving my Ford Taurus 97 OHV 3.0 GL XC. I've been pretty leasurly with it driving the speed limit and most of the 6000 miles ive driven in the past 2 months have been highway miles. car has 146k. Changed oil, coolant, air filters, sparkplugs before i left. Car burns about 1qt. oil every change. Overall not bad condition for a 10yr old car.

When i got to colorado the engine started taking longer to turn over. Thought it was the high altitude and it wasn't casue it does the same at sea level. Normally it would take 1 sec to turn over, now on a cold start it takes up to 7 sec. If i drive it till operating conditions turn it off then on again it ususally starts up 1-2 sec (almost normally). If wait an hr or 2 and start it up it could take up to 4 sec or so. On the cold start its not struggling to start, just simply takes a long time. This symptom happened overnight it seemed. After about a week the Check engine light started to go on and then off and goes on and off again and again randomly. The code read some sort of fuel mixture issue. Forget the exact code. So can't be the starter, doubt its electrical (electrical check checked out - battery has got a while to go). could it be the fuel pump/filter? i don't know anything about those. This is the first time this car has had this issue

open to any suggestions. Thanks

Burl2 · 09-28-2007, 07:58 PM

oh yeah and fuel injector cleaner does nothing, total waist of $5.

worthirt_99 · 09-28-2007, 08:30 PM

When is the last time your fuel filter was repalced?

Davescort97 · 09-28-2007, 09:21 PM

Fuel pressure regulator. Not holding pressure. It'll start quick right after you turn it off because the pressure will still be good. After it's been sitting for a while pressure goes down..

Burl2 · 09-28-2007, 11:23 PM

so based on the info i've told you, if i replace the pressure regulator, do you think the taurass will start up normally?

I'm looking at the directions for replacement in a Haynes book. Its a small part. Would this be an easy fix or do you think i would have to go through the entire Rail/Injector/Pressure Regulator replacement proceedure in order to replace just the pressure regulator?

thanks

worthirt_99 · 09-28-2007, 11:37 PM

shoot if you have to relieve all the pressure off the fuel system, I'd just replace the fuel filter while I was at it. At least then you know the date it was replaced.

shorod · 09-29-2007, 12:57 AM

I agree with worthit_99, start with the fuel filter as that's a maintenance item. Then, pick up (or borrow) of fuel pressure tester and check the fuel pressure when you turn the key to the run position, without trying to start the car. If the pressure is low, I'd suspect that your fuel pump is on its way out.

The fuel pressure regulator is vacuum operated (along with a spring preload) so I would expect it to cause driveability problems rather than just starting problems.

-Rod

Burl2 · 09-29-2007, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shorod

I agree with worthit_99, start with the fuel filter as that's a maintenance item. Then, pick up (or borrow) of fuel pressure tester and check the fuel pressure when you turn the key to the run position, without trying to start the car. If the pressure is low, I'd suspect that your fuel pump is on its way out.

The fuel pressure regulator is vacuum operated (along with a spring preload) so I would expect it to cause driveability problems rather than just starting problems.

-Rod

Hmmm, yeah asside from the startup, the car runs pretty much like it always has. So maybe that would say the regulator is okay, based on what you've told me. So possibly a fuel pump issue, and the filter should just be changed for routine maintanence.

The proceedure involved to check the pressure would just include releasing the fuel pressure, plugging the tester in on the rail like it says in the book and finding out? easy? I'm trying to see if this is totally somethin i could do myself since i haven't had much exerpience working on cars. When its more than routine maintenance i tend to stray away.

thanks again

worthirt_99 · 09-29-2007, 05:53 PM

Check your pressure after you change your fuel filter though. I say that because I have seen a dirty/clogged fuel filter cause low pressure at the fuel rail making you think that you have a bad fuel pump. I'm just trying to help out and mabye even save you some money.

Burl2 · 09-29-2007, 06:09 PM

awsome. will do. thanks again

g1smith · 10-02-2007, 11:16 AM

Weird Start Problems random starting problems

My high mileage 5.0 Mustang was doing the exact same thing, basically the symptom of 'Long Crank Time'. It eventually degraded to the point where it wouldn't start to save its life, other times it started right away, but usually it was 3 - 5 seconds of cranking. I thought it was a fuel delivery issue but when it finally refused to start at all I found the following advice suggesting two things to replace that solved it.

The most likely fix is the TFI Ignition Module. It usually causes problems after the car gets to operating temps, but mine showed it problems when it was cold. They're notorious enough for going out that if you go into a good parts store and ask for "one of those thingys that goes bad on newer Fords" they usually give you one of them. The ignition module is quite easy to replace, being a single plug and is located either on the side of the distributor on on the fenderwell for the 5.0 Mustang.

The other part is the stator/pickup in the distributor. It senses when to fire the coil to send the spark to each cylinder. After some time this sensor becomes flaky and can cause these problems The stator is inside the distributor, and requires removal of the distributor gear, and pressing it back on. I was able to do this with my bench vise, but your results may vary.

Davescort97 · 10-05-2007, 07:10 PM

I hope you have solved your problem by this time, but if you haven't you might consider the fuel pressure regulator to be suspect. Check whether you have fuel pressure after sitting all night by depressing the valve at the end of the fuel rail. Fuel should squirt out even if it has not been started for some time. When you turn on the ignition, but not to start you should be able to hear the fuel pump making a whirrrring sound. If you can hear the fuel pump it is probably all right. A negligable fuel pump or filter would cause fuel starvation while driving under high demand conditions. Like has been said, if you are going to bleed the pressure to replace the fuel regulator it would be a good idea to replace the filter, too. I have conferred with another mechanic and he thinks it is the fuel pressure regulator, also.

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