2002 Windstar won't start

For the past two weeks we have experienced some strange things with our 2002 Windstar. 59,000 miles
First, out of the clear blue it would not start (two weeks ago). Turning over, just would not start. Jumping the thing did not help. Waited an hour and it started up fine with being jumped. Later the same day when trying to start it seemed like the engine was choking off or not getting gas or air. I could floor it and it just would chug and die. Waited 10 minutes started fine. Mechanic said hard to determine since problem would not happen again.It's been two weeks, running fine until yesterday. It was hard to start, I drove a mile and then when I tried to re-start it, it would not start. Waited an hour and it started! Now we have the thing at home and have not been able to start it at all since yesterday. Answers? Help!

When an engine cranks but does not start it is normally either a fuel problem or an ignition (spark) problem.

Check to make sure the fuel pump is coming on (you should hear it).

Check the fuel pump relays too. (12Ounce has stated this on many occasions and it is good advice)

An inexpensive spark tester can be used to verify that ytou are getting a spark.

Guilty as charged!

Look in your Glovebox Owner's Guide (Roadside emergencies) for the location of the fuel pump relay .... and the PCM power relay.

They are making the fuel pumps more difficult to hear. If you've got old ears such as mine, ... that plastic fuel tank ... especially if full of fuel ...it will be difficult to hear.

Keep a bunch of rags and a small screwdriver with you. Next time the van won't start, open the hood, look for the fuel lines/ fuel rail and find the little valve that looks like a tire valve stem. Crank over the engine for a few seconds then quickly cover the valve with rags while you push in the valve stem. If no fuel squirts out or just a small dribble you may have a bad fuel pump (happened with my neighbors '98 Windstar and my '99 Taurus).

If it doesn't wreak of gasoline after all that engine cranking, then as the other gents suggested, it's probably fuel pump related. Either that pesky relay, or the pump itself is failed. Is your check engine light on?

G/luck
Joel

OK guys... and or gals... here is where i am. The fuse for the fuel pump was blown. Replaced that then drove it, turned it off, and it would not start. Fuse is now OK, but it would not start last night and I gave up. Today, after reading online some hints, went out to start. I could hear the fuel pump kicking in. I turned it to ignition on and off a half a dozen times to get the fuel pump going (as they suggested) and could hear it every time. I then started it and it turned right over. For now it is sitting in my drive running as I am trying to decide what to do. I have spent the morning trying to locate a fuel pump as I thought it was probably bad as did the family friend who is the mechanic who will be coming to do the job. I was thinking I better run off the fuel to make the replacement job easier, but now I am not sure if I should spend the $$. If the fuel pump was bad, would this happen? Or do you think it is my relay. I got one of those today, am waiting for someone to come and install it. (I am no mechanic!) Your hints and help are greatly appreciated

I would try the relay first. You should not need to be a mechanic to do that.

If it is your fuel pump then you will find it in the fuel tank.

There are other things I would try before replacing the pump:

- relay
- Fuel filter (replace)
- measure fuel pressure

I would still check the fuel pressure immediately when the van won't start. When the fuel pump failed in my '99 Taurus it would intermittently run then stop. Only when I checked the fuel pressure using the valve on the fuel rail did I suspect then replace the pump.

Any luck yet? Inquiring minds want to know :lol2: .

Well.... it was the fuel pump. Pressure was not even half of what it should have been. I have heard that this has happened with this year and model frequently. I think I sped up the failure by my driving habits. I have an electronic dispay that tells how much gas is in the tank by fractions. I visit a client's area where the gas is very cheap with a discount program I use, so I would run til empty OFTEN! The mechanic told me this was very bad to do... the pump uses the fluid from the gas as cooling and by running low, i was making the pump run hot too much. So now I have a new fuel pump, fuse, relay and filter. AND I will not be running close to empty EVER again!