Trouble Starting '95 Towncar

[Rowsdower]

i'm writitng this on behalf of my great unce who has had his white '95 towncar Signature sieries for about a year. Apparently, after the car has been running for a while and he shuts it off, hte car won't start back up. The starter turns noramlly, but the engine won't fire. Anybody know what's going on?

[Towncar]

Are you near the car to test and check it out ??

There are quite a few possibilities.

Are you seeing the "check engine" light come on, ever ? It should light for a few seconds while starting the car to show the light actually works, then go out until a problem is detected.

In 1995 there were two types of OBDii systems, the first was kindof generic with limited abilities and the second was fully compliant to the 1996 and beyond standards.

With a fully compliant OBDii and engine problem should first show the "check engine" light, then store the code or codes that caused the problem. A no start condition, if related to sensors, catalitac convs., EGR system, etc.. should store codes.

Could also be fuel starved from bad fuel filter (located near the left rear wheel on the frame), etc.

Was anything done that led to this problem? Did this come on suddenly or has it been creeping up?

[Rowsdower]

The problem came prety suddenly. I asked a mechanic friend and he said it sounded like a problem found mainly in GM cars, but Fords too, where after fuel is pumped, it goes back into the gas tank due to a faulty stopper. My great uncle my grandparents adnd myself will be out of town for a few days (driving a '97 town Car) so that will give our friend time to diagnose and fix whatever problem the '95 Town Car has. Thanks a bunch!

[Towncar]

Ahhhh the 1997 back-up ride !!!

Post back when your back in town... you may have noticed I'm the only one that actually answers this particular board...

If you need some serious help try http://www.lincolnsonline.com

[ltdltc]

All 1995s are fully OBD-II compliant, same as a 96,97 or even a 2000.

Might want to look up some TSBs as I have heard of many fords doing this but I can't recall what it was.

[moxlon69]

I'd be curious to know what's up with that. I have a '96 town car (not very much difference between the two), that recently started acting funny. I used some snap-on diagnostic gear which said that the ECT Sensor (Engine Coolant Temperature) is bad. The sensor is up front on the intake manifold, passenger side of the car. I replaced the sensor, added a bit of coolant to replace the coolant that I lost while goofing off, and the car started up fine. Two days later, the car's back to a no-start condition..

[grease]

I have a 96 town car with same problems. I think it may have something to do with the alarm. sometimes it has started after reseting the alarm once or twice. although I have tried wiggling some of the sensor conn. (egr. and others as some of you think the problem is there.) Any other Ideas out there?????

[Towncar]

There's NO magic cure for "no start". You've gotta get into the diagnosis and find the problem.

Besides what was offered by others on this board, I'll look some post up from another board and link them here:
Another Post
Another Post
Another Post
Another Post
Another Post
Another Post
Another Post
Another Post
Another Post
Another Post
Another Post
Another Post

Originally posted by someone:
[QB]Did you try to start with the gear selector in Neutral? I'm thinking that the Neutral Start (safety) switch may have gone bad, or the control wire running to it may have shorted out. BTW, when moving wires around (especially "unknown" ones), disconnect the battery first.[/QB]

Do us ALL a favor, and post back with your testing steps, conclusions, successes and failures...

[grease]

I have learned since my last post, that someone had a similar problem with a 92 town car. they stated that the problem was in a wire under the drivers seat connected to the seat memory module. evedently the same wire is connected to the start solinoid hot wire. whenever i have had problem with the car starting I have had to reprogram the seat memory. Does anyone know ith the same wire routing applies to the 96 town car??

[msilvia]

I wanted to add my input to all these older postings since I had exactly the same problem with the same model vehicle - intermittent failure to start, particularly when warm.

Unfortunately, you have to wait for it to fail to find the problem - when it did - we found no spark. Rather than troubleshooting the whole system, we decided to take a change on replacing cheap components first. We replaced the EEC and Fuel Pump Relays - about $8.00 each. Problem solved - I actually waited 3 months to post this to be sure.

It may be worth the $16.00 in your time and aggravation to try this first.

Mike

[Towncar]

Originally Posted by msilvia

We replaced the EEC and Fuel Pump Relays - about $8.00 each. Problem solved - I actually waited 3 months to post this to be sure. It may be worth the $16.00 in your time and aggravation to try this first.
Mike

Thanks Mike...
On another board this has been a hot topic. The recommendation is to get extra relays and carry them with you, also replace them every few years whether you need they or not.

[koolfingaz]

I have the same problem, but i know a little more about whats going on with it..... my car drives fine. then when you turn it off and try to start it later.... it will not fire.. at all!!! I have been going through this for a while now and found a bit of a clue when it is doing this... Normally when you turn the key before you start the motor in the gauges... all the lights come on then go out.. i geuss just to test them. well normally the "overdrive off" light comes on then goes off quickly... when it is not starting if you turn the key to ignition before starting the motor the overdrive light stays on constantly.... each time this stays on before starting the car the engione WILL NOT start. after doing this numerous time and the overdrive light comes on and then goes out the way it is supposed to.... the motor will start right away. It has something to do with the overdrive off light. what could it be it is driving me crazy!!!

[Towncar]

Originally Posted by koolfingaz

.... each time this stays on before starting the car the engione WILL NOT start.

Hey Kool, Welcome !!
Curious question, will the OD light go off when you hit the OD button?

[koolfingaz]

when the car is not starting and the light is staying on constantly.... no. I have the ignition on without the motor running and the light is staying on constantly instead of turning aff after the sef test. then i tried pushing the button and to no avail. the light just stayed on. and the motor did not start. Then after switching on and off the ignition until the light came on then went off like normail.... the car starts. Im about to trade this car in beacuse of this... I would love to keep it. It is in mint condition and has a cloth top (blue). and everything works just great on the car. But this leaving me stranded from time to time is getting old.

any clues?

[koolfingaz]

I would like to bump this post up... The car is deciding not to do it anymore.... Ive not done anything to it, it just starts everytime now.. But it will do it again sooner or later. Still looking for answers to this question.

thanks