Taurus won't start!!!
Smithway
07-28-2011, 08:35 PM
My 2001 Ford Taurus DOHC cranks but will not start!
Smithway
07-28-2011, 08:37 PM
Can anyone hear me?
Smithway
07-28-2011, 08:46 PM
This is my first time in this forum. Could someone kindly post and let me know this is working? Thanks much.
shorod
07-28-2011, 09:48 PM
Yes, your posts are visible. Welcome to the forum!
To offer you much help though, we're going to need more information, such as what don't you have, spark, proper air/fuel mixture, or compression. Assuming it recently started, compression probably isn't the problem. I'd start by checking for spark at one or more spark plugs. If you have spark, then check for fuel pressure. If you have a fuel pressure gauge, this is pretty easy. If you do not have a gauge, you might try spraying some throttle body cleaner and spray it in to the intake while someone cranks the engine and see if the engine will fire up while you provide cleaner.
-Rod
To offer you much help though, we're going to need more information, such as what don't you have, spark, proper air/fuel mixture, or compression. Assuming it recently started, compression probably isn't the problem. I'd start by checking for spark at one or more spark plugs. If you have spark, then check for fuel pressure. If you have a fuel pressure gauge, this is pretty easy. If you do not have a gauge, you might try spraying some throttle body cleaner and spray it in to the intake while someone cranks the engine and see if the engine will fire up while you provide cleaner.
-Rod
Smithway
07-28-2011, 11:36 PM
Thanks Rod...sorry my puter booted me off...where do I start? The car has been giving a check engine light for a while...I don't have the codes, but I've thrown parts at it for the last 6 weeks...plugs, wires, coil pack, EGR, crank & cam sensors, pCV valve & hose (hose had hole in it), fuel filter. I don't have fuel pressure gauge, but turned on pump while changing filter, gas shot 10 feet. Was told about fuel regulator, but can't find it (thought it was the inline pulse dampener-can THAT cause a problem?). Had water spray out of tailpipe just before it wouldn't crank anymore, so I'm thinking head gasket. Was gonna install Steel Seal, but can't crankup the car to heat the engine for that. Next step for me is check compression in cylinders, to see if head gasket bad or bad valve. I did try starting fluid into throttle body (through vacuum hose hole) but to no avail. Depreeing alamite on fuel rail caused gas to shoot everywhere. Car acts like it wants to try to start, but won't. Would appreciate ANY advice. Thanks much
Smithway
07-28-2011, 11:40 PM
Depressing the alamite on the fuel rail caused gas to shoot everywhere (seems to have good pressure, but I don't have a fuel pressure gauge to check for sure).
shorod
07-31-2011, 07:50 AM
Sorry for the delayed response, I was out of town for the past couple of days.
It does sound like you have good fuel pressure. Have you checked to see if any of the parts stores near you will let you borrow a scan tool to check the diagnostic codes? For less than what you've spent on parts, you could have purchased a scan tool that may tell you where the problem lies. If you are opposed to picking up a scan tool or are unable to check one out, I'd suggest you get a spark tester (very inexpensive, or you can use an old spark plug) to see if you have spark. That's much easier than checking compression on this engine.
The water spraying out the exhaust could be condensation or excess fuel from the lack of starting, or from being extremely flooded.
-Rod
It does sound like you have good fuel pressure. Have you checked to see if any of the parts stores near you will let you borrow a scan tool to check the diagnostic codes? For less than what you've spent on parts, you could have purchased a scan tool that may tell you where the problem lies. If you are opposed to picking up a scan tool or are unable to check one out, I'd suggest you get a spark tester (very inexpensive, or you can use an old spark plug) to see if you have spark. That's much easier than checking compression on this engine.
The water spraying out the exhaust could be condensation or excess fuel from the lack of starting, or from being extremely flooded.
-Rod
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026
