Well a while back my car, which is a 1993 Ford Taurus SHO (3.2L auto), was having problems starting. It would usually take a few cranks until it actually started. I took the car down to a local autoshop and they told me the fuel pump wasnt retaining any fuel and that i needed to buy a new filter/pump. I did so and had a friend install it (not really a friend, but a guy who is supposed to know a lot about cars....) and after the installation process we tried to start the car and it was a no go. But this time the car just wouldn't start at all and it sounded very "weak." So i took out the starter and had it tested, it failed so i ended up buying a new starter and installed that myself. The car still wouldn't work. These are my questions...

Could the fuel pump and filter have been installed wrong?
Are there any other parts missing/needing to be replaced to cause this problem?
Any ideas on how to fix this problem?

I don't really want to take this car back into the shop because as a i college student i am very low on cash..and i already put about $700 into this car with the fuel pump/filter and to fix a major oil leak...plus all the misc. stuff i needed to buy to get the work done... Any help would be really appreciated!

I would guess that your fuel rail is not yet pressurized with fuel. I think the trick is to turn the ignition to run wait a couple of seconds turn off and back to run, repeat 7 times then try starting. You may have to vent the air out of the rail at the shrader (sp?) valve on the rail. Let me know if this works.

Jeff

You may have to vent the air out of the rail at the shrader (sp?) valve on the rail.


and how would i go about doing this here? i did try turning the ignition..then stopping..waiting...then doing again. No luck with that there. Something i didnt mention earlier, which you probably assumed was the car sounds extremely healthy when *trying* to start... it just cant start.

Can you hear the fuel pump run for a second or two after you turn the key to ON (without starting the engine)?

Can you hear the fuel pump run for a second or two after you turn the key to ON (without starting the engine)?

I'm pretty sure that it's not coming on. I even got my dad and friend out there (because my hearing is fairly poor...) and they said they didnt hear it turn on. Can you think of any reasons for this?

By the way, thanks for your guy's help. I really appreciate it :)

I would guess that your fuel rail is not yet pressurized with fuel. I think the trick is to turn the ignition to run wait a couple of seconds turn off and back to run, repeat 7 times then try starting. You may have to vent the air out of the rail at the shrader (sp?) valve on the rail. Let me know if this works.

Jeff

I don't know how true this is....

When I upgraded my 2.9L to 19LBS injectors, it only took about 4 engine cranks for it to fire and run normal in my 1988 Ford Ranger. The fuel rail was completely empty, full of air. It ran like crap, but I have a special EFI tool that I can adjust like a carberator on my MAF. It just needed adjusted for the bigger injectors.

Anything could be installed wrong. If I were you, I would just get a rag and push in the scharder valve to verify that you have any fuel in your fuel rail. Next step will be to check the plugs for fuel on them after cranking the engine. (Should flood the crap out of it) If everything checks out, test the fuel pressure.

If the fuel pressure is OK, then something entirely different is wrong. I would check for spark if you have fuel. If no spark, then scan the codes.

Pete

I'm pretty sure that it's not coming on. I even got my dad and friend out there (because my hearing is fairly poor...) and they said they didnt hear it turn on. Can you think of any reasons for this?

By the way, thanks for your guy's help. I really appreciate it :)

What you can do is open the gas cap and put your ear up close to the filler hole and have someone else turn the key to on. If you can't hear it then, it's definitely not coming on. And, of course, if it's not coming on, that's your problem.

In that case, it seems it is either a dead pump, or it's not getting power. If you have a Haynes or Chilton book it will give you some diagnostic information. The only easy thing I can think of to check is the fuel pump relay; again, you'll want a Haynes/Chilton book to find this, etc.

Is there a safety switch in the trunk? I had an 87 Taurus wagon. I found out there was a safety switch at the time I had the pump changed out. If there is a safety switch, it may to be reset. If I recall, it was like resetting the garbage disposer, you pushed the reset button and it should work. These switchs were meant to kill the fuel pump in the event of a collision. Good luck.

Is there a safety switch in the trunk? I had an 87 Taurus wagon. I found out there was a safety switch at the time I had the pump changed out. If there is a safety switch, it may to be reset. If I recall, it was like resetting the garbage disposer, you pushed the reset button and it should work. These switchs were meant to kill the fuel pump in the event of a collision. Good luck.

I'm not going to say this will fix it, but I will commend you on the good idea. :) That wouldn't have crossed my mind for a long time.

Checking the fuel pump emergency switch in the trunk is a very good idea.One would normally releive the fuel pressure before working on the fuel system even for a fuel filter change which I did recently.The switch is usually located in the trunk on the left ( drivers side) behind the trim piece.It's possible the fellow doing the work forgot to reconnect or reset it afer he finished.

Opening up the fuel system without relieving the pressure could be an exciting event.Other obvious things would be a loose wire at the pump disturbed while replacing the fuel tank.

Well i will definately go through all of the things you guys have listed. Does anyone have any idea where i can find the fuel rail on my '93 taurus sho?

Well i will definately go through all of the things you guys have listed. Does anyone have any idea where i can find the fuel rail on my '93 taurus sho?
Um...right above the injectors.