1993 Ford Aerostar Won't Start

FORD AEROSTAR
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ANOINTEDMOG
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:( Hi ,
I have a 1993 ford aerostar with a 3.0 L engine, it has 210,000 miles on the engine.
It has had an internal oil leak for roughly 1 year, the oil come out of the tailpipe at start up but does'nt seem to come out once you drive it. Anyway recently the car became harder and harder to start in the morning and the engine started to lose power, the gas mileage went down dramatically and eventually it would not start. So far these are things that have been changed or tested.
Spark Plugs, Wires, Distributor, Rotor, Catalytic Converter, Fuel Filter, Oxygen Sensor. We are getting a spark from the #1 plug and we did a crude fuel pump test. (We disconnect the fuel line from the front end of the fuel filter and cranked the engine. The fuel shot out forcefully in the container under the car. Could this be engine compression or fuel injectors? Please help, I am a weekend warrior mechanic at best so please explain everything as SIMPLY as possible.


Thanks!
Mar 31, 2006 at 7:36 AM
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PEPPERMRJ
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:!: Try some starting fluid thru the throttle body. :!: Very carefully. :!:

Do a compression test also.

Good luck and let us know. :)
Apr 1, 2006 at 7:43 AM
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ANOINTEDMOG
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Hello,

I was wondering how do perform a compression test if the engine won't start? from my understanding of the repair manual, you need to warm the car up to normal operating temperature before performing the compression test. Will you get an accurate reading just cranking a cold engine with the tester in the spark plug hole? Let me know, also we tried the starting fluid and nothing happened. We also hooked a scanner up to the computer and it came back with a "no problems found" code.
Apr 4, 2006 at 3:36 AM
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PEPPERMRJ
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 1,158 POSTS
Yes the proper way is to have the engine @ operating temperature. Not always possible and in conflict with the instructions not to remove spark plugs from an aluminum cylinder head unless it is cold. If the problem is in only one or two cylinders it will show up in the difference in the readings. Really low readings across the board will also be telling.
Apr 4, 2006 at 4:19 AM
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Suggested Repair

Perform a compression test even if the engine cannot be warmed to operating temperature. Compare cylinder readings: a large difference points to one or two weak cylinders, and very low readings on all cylinders are also significant. Starting fluid through the throttle body did not start the engine, and the scan reported no codes.

Conversation Summary

A 1993 Ford Aerostar 3.0L with high mileage and a long-standing oil-burning issue became harder to start, lost power, and then would not start. Plugs, wires, distributor, rotor, catalytic converter, fuel filter, and oxygen sensor were already replaced; spark was present at the number 1 plug and a crude fuel-pump check showed strong fuel flow. Starting fluid through the throttle body did not start the engine, and a scanner reported no problems. The expert advised a compression test, noting a cold test can still reveal uneven or uniformly low cylinder readings.

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