1996 Taurus wagon starting problems

Hi,

I just bought a 1996 Taurus wagon and the car runs well. After driving for several miles, with the engine fully warmed up, I stopped for a lunch break. After about ten minutes, I started the car and within seconds it died. Surprised, I started the car again and the same thing happened; the car started, the rpm's came up to idle and then the car died. This happened probably ten or more times. While this was going on, I noticed the engine temperature dropping to cool (although the engine was not hot; about a third of the way from cool to hot). After about twenty minutes the car started and ran fine for the rest of the day and restarted on two more occasions.

Any ideas what might cause this? Is there some safety mechanism that has to do with engine temperature. During this problem moment, each time the car started and then died within seconds as though it were not getting fuel.

Thanks,


Mike

Welcome to the forum!

Sounds like your diagnosis is probably correct, sounds like the symptoms of a weak fuel pump. One test would be to cycle the key a few times next time it acts up for you. When it won't start, turn the key off for about 5 seconds, then turn the key to run for about 2 second, back off for around 5 seconds, then on for 2 seconds, off for 5, then try to start it. If it starts up just fine this way, your fuel pump is probably due to be replaced.

The fuel pump is an electric motor and is located in the fuel tank. When your first turn the key to run, the pump should run for about a second to prime the fuel rail. As the pumps wear out, they don't fully prime the fuel rail. Multiple primes typically work.

You could also check your Key On, Enging Off (KOEO) fuel pressure if you have a pressure guage.

-Rod

When you replace or have the pump replaced, replace the fuel filter as well. Some consider it a standard maintenance item and as the new owner, you should start fresh. It's even possible I'm told, that a dirty fuel filter can prematurely wear out your fuel pump. Then, there are some fuel pumps, like mine, that will fail for no good reason at a very young age. I would imagine your 96 has some miles on it.

When you replace or have the pump replaced, replace the fuel filter as well. Some consider it a standard maintenance item and as the new owner, you should start fresh. It's even possible I'm told, that a dirty fuel filter can prematurely wear out your fuel pump. Then, there are some fuel pumps, like mine, that will fail for no good reason at a very young age. I would imagine your 96 has some miles on it.

Check fuel pressure if that good..
Coolant temp sensor, and not the gauge sensor.. Check the connector and wiring to it. A Scanner would help to monitor things, but you need to have the No Idle - stalling problem to see it on the scanner..

Does it do it all the time now? Or just that once?

Hi and thanks for your kind responses.

Can anyone tell me where the coolant temperature sensor is located on the engine?

Everytime I turn the car off after the engine has reached operating temperature it will not restart until the engine cools down. After cooling down, the car starts and runs fine.

I believe the car must be creating a false reading somewhere in the circuit that involves the engine temperature and an attempt is made to turn the engine off immediately after starting, even though the operating temperature is within the normal range.

Is there such a circuit and is this circuit controled by the coolant temperature sensor?

Thanks,


Mike

At present, I will just guide you to your engine coolant temp sensor (ECT), as to circuit logic, I'm too pooped to think too hard on that. I guess it's possible, I'm more in agreement on the fuel possibility. To prove out your theory, you would need to disconnect the ect when the car is hot and won't restart. With it disconnected, it should start, if not, you have a different problem. The fuel issue can also be proven with a fuel gauge, testing for fuel pressures at various conditions. Anyway, the ect is found near the confluence of the upper radiator hose, heater hose and bypass hose at the back(right) side of the engine. It has a 2-wire connector, possibly with light green/red and gray/red wires. Not to be confused with the temp sending unit that has one wire to it and I think is behind the ect, at least is on the 95s and later. Good luck and let us know what happens!

Some Fords have a Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) sensor, but no such beast on the Taurus. Even those with CHT don't prevent the engine from starting once up to temp, but rather go into limp home mode with a diagnostic light on the instrument cluster.

The engine cooling fans are triggered by the ECT sensor. Do your radiator fans work, and if so, are they running when the engine won't start? If there are no indications on your instrument cluster, the radiator fans work but are not running when you suspect the over-temp indication, I think you can move on to checking fuel pressure.

Have you tried to prime the fuel pump like was suggested in post #2 above?

-Rod