99 taurus won't start

Hey folks,
My daughter's 99 taurus 3.0 has a problem. It drives fine, but when she parks it to go to the store (or elsewhere) it won't start when she gets back in. It has power, and attempts to turn over but won't. If it sits for a couple of hours, it starts right up and drives fine. Any ideas? Thanks for your help.

I need some clarification on "attempts to turn over but won't." Does the starter motor spin the engine over, but the engine never starts, or does she just hear a clunk when turning the key to Start but the starter motor does not spin the engine?

If the starter seems to work fine but the engine never starts, the symptoms would be consistent with a failing fuel pump. The proper test for this would be to confirm that the fuel pump inertia switch has power for the first 1 or 2 seconds after the key is turned to the run position but the fuel pressure adapter on the fuel rail does not build appropriate pressure.

-Rod

if it cranks and will not start engine hot but no problem engine cold.few things out of range coolant temperature sensor/leaking fuel pressure regulator.

Ok, thanks for your replies... I had gotten some bad info from my daughter since whenever I went to get her, it started right up. This time I attempted to start it and there is nothing, you turn the key, hear the fuel pump and nothing...the starter doesn't even move. So starter??? even when I attempted to jump it, nothing. Again, thanks for your help.

Ok, after doing some research here, the problems in this thread, seem to be my problem. If you guys have any other imput, thanks

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=1039287&highlight=no+starter

Are you getting the single click or truly nothing? If you get the single click, then after confirming the connections at the battery are clean and tight, and that the battery is not more than 3-4 years old, the starter is a reasonable item to consider. You could always use a test light at the starter solenoid itself to confirm signal is getting to the starter to activate it, as well as to confirm you have battery voltage to the starter.

If you are truly getting nothing, not even a solid "Click" when the key is turned to the Start position, you might try turning the key to Run, holding your foot on the brake pedal, and shifting to Neutral, then try the starter again (still with your foot on the brake). If the starter reliably engages in this configuration, then your issue might be the Transmission Range Sensor (a relatively common issue on that vintage of Taurus). If Neutral does not seem to help the situation, then you will want to spend more time with a test light, probing the starter solenoid trigger signal and working back until you find the last place in the circuit that has trigger voltage. If the trigger is making it all the way to the starter solenoid, then the starter is probably the issue.

-Rod