97 Taurus starting troubles.

[darthgeg]

My 97 taurus gl with the vulcan engine starts just fine then immediatly starts to sputter and backfire then quits. Pushing down on the gas pedal does not help. I doesnt seem to be getting any gas to the engine. Could it be a bad fuel pump?

[shorod]

Hmmm, you'll need to do some more investigation before condemning the fuel pump. The fuel pump is located in the fuel tank and the tank needs to be dropped from the car to replace, so it's not the first part to swap.

Shortly after the car dies, pull a few spark plugs and check the condition of them. Are they wet and smell like raw fuel? If so, you probably have plenty of fuel. Can you get access to a fuel pressure guage? If so, put that on the fuel rail and check for appropriate pressure. If you don't have good pressure, when is the last time the fuel filter was replaced? If you don't know, replace it. It certainly won't hurt.

For the brief time the car is running, what does the exhaust look like?

When the car is running, is the Check Engine Light (CEL) illuminated? If so, have the codes read and post them here.

Verify that the air intake hose is properly installed between the air filter and the throttle body. Also, make sure the Mass Airflow Sensor is plugged in (electrical connection).

Inspect the vacuum lines for cracks, holes, breaks, etc.

Was any work performed just prior to the problem such as spark plug wires?

-Rod

[darthgeg]

The exhaust was a whitish color however it was about 28 degrees this morning and the exhaust only looked like that when I tried revving the engine to get it fuel. No check engine light on. It has been a while since it had a tune up. I will try that first. Thanks.

[shorod]

If you find any spark plugs that look exceptionally clean, you may have coolant leaking into that cylinder. However, since you mention it was cold, we'll hope the whitish exhaust was just due to condensation....

-Rod

[darthgeg]

Turns out to be the intake hose was chewed through by a squirrel. Thanks for your help.

[shorod]

Interesting. I have to say that's the first time I've heard of that!

-Rod