Can't Figure out the *@$#% Problem!! Help!

OK, I will try to give as much detail to this problem and see if anyone can give me an idea on how to resolve it. We have a 2000 Ford Taurus (U-code) that we purchased new in 02/2000. The car just ecplised the 60000 mile mark this last fall. The problem started to appear a few months ago when you would start the car. It would crank, but not fire up like normal. It wasn't doing this every time - just time to time. The problem progressively got worse. The car would only run and drive (basically braking it) if you held the accelerator down slightly. If you took your foot off the accelerator in P,R,N,D - the car would die. You could get back in the car a few minutes later and it would crank fine and run without a problem. I changed the plugs, fuel filter, air filter, O2 sensors, and nothing seemed to fix it. I bought a brand new set of wires and that seemed to address it - for a little while. After about 2-3 weeks, it started doing it again....but not as often as before. I would like to say that it occurs on cold/moist days - but that hasn't always been the case. While I haven't flushed the fuel system - I really have no other clues on what to do. If anyone has any ideas - please let me know!!!

...and there is No 'Check Engine' light engaged.


Thanks in advance!
Jason

i would look at the Idle Air Control Valve

Very good point. I will look into that this evening and see if it resolves the problem....that is the one thing I haven't checked!!

Very good point. I will look into that this evening and see if it resolves the problem....that is the one thing I haven't checked!!

Heh...funny. That sounds like the very first thing I would have checked.

What you can do, just as a little experiment, is unplug your IAC wires and start the car. You will need to depress the accelerator slightly while you crank the engine; keep holding the accelerator as it runs for a few seconds, then get off the gas. The car will die. If this behavior is like what you've been experiencing, it's time to clean or replace the part.

byrddog, You might want to read the message posted on 02/21 by cdhowell "2002 Ford Taurus misfire fixed". Seems like a good exercise for problems similar to yours.

Thanks for the replies guys.......I am now looking into this and hope this will take care of it.

check your coil pack or distributor (wich ever you have). that would explain the cold/mist thing. any cracks in there and a little moisture....

check your coil pack or distributor (wich ever you have). that would explain the cold/mist thing. any cracks in there and a little moisture....

Really have to believe it is the IACV since it is using a coil pack and doesn't have a distributor. Just haven't had the time to install it, but will hope to get to it this weekend.......