Death of a good car

1ERALBRIGHT

MEMBER
1993 MERCURY TOPAZ
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
140,000 MILES

Hi, my car just died and I just don't seem to find the reason. The car is a '93 Mercury Topaz, and I had received it used, installed new plugs, wires, distro cap and coil, and replaced the fuel filter. When I got the car, it had tears in the EGR tube which went from the exhaust collector to the EGR, causing hard starts; I then patched it with muffler tape, and it would start on the second try.
On the day it died, I had driven it without issue-it ran smooth and strong-and then parked for about an hour and half. Starting it up again took about 5 tries, and after stopping somewhere else for about 2 hours, it would not fire up again. The battery is good and it turns over easily, but would just not fire. I also loosened the fuels filter to check for pressure on both ends, and there was. All the wires in the engine compartment look good. Could there be a fuse for ignition that I don't know about? Or perhaps the ECM has gone? Any light could shed would be most helpful, thanks.

1 Reply

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Do below to determine if its a fuel or spark problem

Get a helper disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine at least 3/16 away from ground -have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, Do you hear the fuel pump come On when you turn key on? If not check fuel pump fuse and fuel pump relay if so, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, coil's resistances, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors and computer Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it.