Intermittantly won't start

SALBECKER

MEMBER
FORD TAURUS

93 taurus. Will start fine for months one end, then all of a sudden it will just crank and crank like it wants to start, then doesn't. It can then go several days and won't start. Then you go out and it kicks right over and won't do it again for several weeks to a month and then start all over again. On several occasions it has done this every couple of days and then fine for a couple of days. Turns over strong, bright blue spark. Haven't been able to check fuel pressure yet. Usually doesn't happen unless the car has sat for a couple of hours or more. Any ideas or direction I can look at. Thanks for all your help

1 Reply

BLMO

MEMBER
72 POSTS

You will need to get a fuel pressure tester. Make sure you have an adapter for Ford, because the Ford shrader valves are smaller than the ones for GM and Chrysler.

As soon as the car has the problem again, measure the fuel pressure. If you're getting 30 - 50 psi, great. Now, turn off the car, leaving the meter connected. See how long it takes for the needle to drop. If it holds steady for several minutes, then that rules out both the fuel pump and fuel pump relay. If it drops quickly, then it could be a fuel leak (such as o-rings at the fuel injectors), or the fuel pressure regulator.

The reason I suspect a fuel problem is that fuel behaves differently at different temperatures, while electrical problems don't.