1990 Ford Crown Victoria engine failure

SOBERSCOTT2012

MEMBER
1990 FORD CROWN VICTORIA
140,000 MILES

The car will shut down while I am driving like it ran out of gas. When I try to start it back up, it will either crank, crank & crank without turning over. Or it will turn over but idling very low and barely keeping running (a straining to keep running idle).
I changed the fuel filter and that worked for about seven consecutive miles before it did the same thing again. I then left the car and went back a hour later. It started right up and I hightailed it home before it happened a third time.
It reminds me of an old lawnmower engine when it has been flooded. You have to wait until it airs out before you can re-start it.
I am also running the A.C. Because the temperature here is now 110 degrees. Of course this means that I have to give the car more gas while I am driving. I am wondering if somehow I am flooding the engine by doing this.
1990 Crown Victoria LX (302 - 5.0)
What else could be wrong?

3 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,901 POSTS

Based on what you described, I would start by checking both the fuel pump pressure and the fuel pressure regulator. See if they are working within the manufacturer's specs.

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Thursday, June 6th, 2013 AT 4:30 PM

DB7178

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Nope. The problem is the "sock" in the tank. At the very end of the fuel suction line, there's a toothpaste-tube-like sock that acts as a filter. It has collapsed. Drop the tank, hammer off the ring keeping down the sending unit, clip the tube, reinstall, and install an in-line filter OUTSIDE of the tank. Your problem will vanish.