1996 Stalling after Idle

I looked through a lot of posts, but don't think I am looking in the right spot...I am just looking for some ideas here.

I have a 1996 Ford Taurus with a 3.0 Liter V6....116,000 Miles.

I will let the vehicle IDLE for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. I back out of a parking spot, and put it in DRIVE. The vehicle stalls and wont restart. I wait approximately 2 hours and it will start right back up and have no problems. This has happened two times now.

Any ideas, or directions you all can send me.

Thanks
South Dakota

After the vehicle stalls and won't restart, does the engine just crank or do you not even get that?

When idling, does the engine feel smooth, or seem to shake a bit? Does it only stall if you shift to drive, or if you pull forward out of a spot, then shift to reverse, will it still stall? What if you back out of spot, then shift from reverse to park or neutral?

When's the last time the car had a tune up with new spark plugs, plug wires, fuel filter, injector cleaner added to the fuel tank, etc.?

-Rod

Moderator:

Answers to your questions:

1. The engine does crank after it dies, just won't start
2. The vehicle runs a little bit rough when started in the cold, but after warming up it gets rid of the rough idle
3. Does it die just putting it into drive....No..It has done it once backing out of a parking spot and then putting it in drive...and also once when just putting it in reverse gear
4. Hasn't happened yet with reverse or neutral
5. Spark Plugs and Wires were changed last summer
6. Have NOT changed the fuel filter
7. Have added injector cleaner in the past, and will add some now again
8. I replaced the EGR valve about 1 month ago

Thank you for your time
South Dakota!

sounds like coil...good luck..

If your Taurus has the 24V Duratech 3.0L V-6, your intake manifold secondary butterflies may be stuck open. I don't recall if they are vacuum or electronically activated in the 1996, but if they are vacuum controlled, they are supposed to close as soon as vacuum is available. If they don't, the car will not run well when cold and will tend to act exactly as you describe. If this is the problem, the car will typically run and start just fine after it is up to operating temperature.

If you have the 12V Vulcan 3.0L V-6, then I would suspect the Idle Air Control (IAC) solenoid.

-Rod

I have similar issues on my 1997 Mercury Sable 3.0L V6. Idle was bad and it gets better as I speed up and I don't have much power. It is hard to overtake another vehicle.

Come to find out that I have a vacuum leak in which the vacuum hose burned up touching the EGR pipe and the way it burned up followed the contour of the EGR pipe and so I kind seals the vacuum hose as it touches the EGR pipe but gradually made the burned hole on the vacuum hose. I have to cut the burned hole of the vacuum hose and reconnect it with plastic hose connector with clamps. I have to move the vacuum hose away from the EGR pipe with a plastic tie wrap.