95 Taurus GL/ will not start

I have a 95 GL 3.8L, would not crank, found out the neg battery post was not making good contact, replaced it and it started, I let it run for like 10mins to make sure everything worked, ac was not blowing out the vents, then the compressor sound like it was clicking on.off then motor died and will not crank, checked radiator this morning and was like empty. I checked the auto fuel pump cutoff switch in trunk, I do not know anything about this engine, i work on Conquest/Starion as a hobby. Is there any sensor or something that i can check. I am afraid that the head gasket is blown but the oil looked fine, was short about a quart. it ran great until i turned AC on max to see if it was cold but nothing came out of dash vents. then it starting clicking. Now this morning when I turn the key air comes out of the dash vents. Any and all help is appreciated. Thanks,gary

When you had the A/C on, did the cooling fan attached to the radiator run? If not, the pressures in the A/C system may have been getting too high causing the cycling noise. That should not have prevented air from blowing through the vents though, unless the evaporator core froze up, blocking the air.

Unfortunately, if there's virtually no coolant in the engine, chances are pretty good the engine overheated. When you attempt to start the car now, do the lights dim drastically when the key is in the "start" position? If so, this may indicate a seized engine. :(

-Rod

yes,they dim when the key is turned on. What do you do for a seized engine? Gary

Well, next step would probably be to remove all 6 spark plugs and try to crank the engine over. You will probably want to put rags or old towels over the spark plug holes to keep any liquids in the cylinders from spraying all over anything in the area. If then engine now cranks over, then try to determine if the cylinders were full of coolant or fuel. If coolant, you are probably looking at a head gasket or cracked head.

If full of fuel, then you need to determine if the injectors are leaking, being held open, etc.

If the starter still will not crank the engine over, then get on the crankshaft pulley bolt with a long breaker bar and attempt to spin the engine over. If it doesn't want to turn over, then the last step would be to remove the starter and make sure it isn't just jammed against the flywheel. With the starter removed, try turning the engine over with the breaker bar. If it now turns over, then the engine probably isn't seized, but the starter is probably junk.

If the engine still doesn't turn over with the plugs and starter removed, you probably are looking at a seized engine. I've seen others on this forum suggesting that replacing the engine with a used or rebuilt is more cost-effective than rebuilding one that's been overheated.

-Rod

The starter turns it over fine it just does not start. I checked the fuel pump, fuel filter and fuel is going to the engine. I will try what you suggested. Thanks,Gary

Oh, so the starter turns the engine over, but the engine does not start? In your original post you mention that the engine died and it will not crank.

If you are sure that you are getting fuel, then after you fill the cooling system with coolant, crank the engine for a few seconds, then press the accelerator all the way to the floor and crank it again. If it now starts, then the engine is probably flooding. When you hold the throttle all the way to th floor (wide open throttle - WOT) the PCM turns off the fuel injectors.

It takes four things to get an engine to start, air, fuel (in the proper ratio) , spark and compression. You will need to determine which is lacking.

-Rod

My brother in law said that there was no spark from the wires. Where is the ignition module located. I see the distributor cap but not the module. The car is the 3.8L V6 build date 4-95.If some one could send me a pic of location to [email protected]. Thanks,Gary

You may not want to post your e-mail address on the forum, I hear that makes you a spam magnet (read the forum guidelines). The igniton module will probably be located in the lower part of the distributor of your car. I don't have the service manual for the 1995, but can check my service manual for my 1993 to see if they show it in there.

-Rod

I think the '95 still has the old familiar EEC-IV ignition. If so the ignition module is in fact on the side of the distributor. You need a special socket type tool to R&R it. This tool is available at many auto parts stores and about ten dollars. The ignition module is most likely your problem, that is also what I would have suggested. Good luck.

I just discovered that I do have the service manual for 1995 model year Fords. It shows that for the 3.8L, the ignition module is located near the base of the windshield under the cowl vent shield. I sent you an e-mail with the procedure attached as a PDF file.

I also e-mailed you (in a second e-mail since it was an after-thought) the ignition system wiring diagram to aid you in your troubleshooting.

Good luck!

-Rod