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2000 Ford Taurus Starting Issue
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mavsfan0434
New User
Jan 15, 2013, 10:09 AM
Post #1 of 8
(3981 views)
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2000 Ford Taurus Starting Issue
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So, I've come to my capabilities end, any help would be great. I have replaced the battery, starter(2 years ago) and battery cables and connections to the terminals. I hope to fix this myself with my fathers help, so any ideas would be great.
The problem is this...in the mornings, just so happens to be the last 2-3 months when it's cold, the car will not start. It turns over good, will crank pretty much indefinately. No clicking, no lights dimming, but when the last battery was tested it showed it was only charged to 75% so I was wondering alternator? Fuel pump has also ran accross my mind, but so far, the 4-5 times this has happened, if you hook up the jumper cables it will start after 2-3 minutes. But is that start coincidence or truly "spark" related and not fuel related, simply for the fact before jumping we have tried 4-5 times to start it with no avail.
If you need anymore info please let me know. Thanks in advance for any help! Also if it is the fuel pump, it is located in the gas tank? Is there a panel under the seat to get to the pump or does the tank have to be dropped?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 15, 2013, 10:33 AM
Post #2 of 8
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Re: 2000 Ford Taurus Starting Issue
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Not sure how you came up with battery is only 75%. You would charge it fully then load test it watching voltage drop too.
It works better with a jump suggesting voltage while cranking might be inadequate for proper fuel pressure now especially when cold. Pressure testing fuel while it's troublesome would be informative while watching for excessive voltage drop from cranking. A maye that, that battery just can't cut it and they do not have their full power when cold to begin with which is why you see them rated with a CCA (cold cranking amps) which I think means just 32F. We know it can get tons colder.
Not so fast on blaming fuel pump till you see evidence at the time it is happening with the conditions too. I do think tank comes out to replace on most actually not nice enough to give you access from inside - some do - this one IDK for sure,
T
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mavsfan0434
New User
Jan 15, 2013, 10:38 AM
Post #3 of 8
(3970 views)
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Re: 2000 Ford Taurus Starting Issue
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So testing the fuel pressure might be the next step? Not sure I know how to do that.
Something else I just remembered, and it might be a totally separate issue, but the other day when I got home and put the car in park, the radio shut off while changing gears from D to P. Could the 2 be related?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 15, 2013, 10:46 AM
Post #4 of 8
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Re: 2000 Ford Taurus Starting Issue
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Fuel pressure is taken usually at a port on fuel rail. Special tool for that. Key on, engine off and should hold there with the key back off. Then watch it while cranking and again while running when and if.
Radio thing is some kind of problem IMO and may be part of draining the battery or something but not normal and no clue right now if that could be related without watching plain vitals of starting first I guess then worry about why the radio can do that. I do not think that is a feature for this car in any way,
T
PS: Of line for a while now.....
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mavsfan0434
New User
Jan 15, 2013, 11:02 AM
Post #5 of 8
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Re: 2000 Ford Taurus Starting Issue
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A friend of my dad's suggested this to test the fuel pump...
Next time it won't start, shoot a little ether into the intake(butterfly is what he called it) If it starts then, you know it is probably the fuel pump, but if that doesn't help then it's most likely something else.
Would anyone else reccommend this?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 15, 2013, 12:44 PM
Post #6 of 8
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Re: 2000 Ford Taurus Starting Issue
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Let's call it "fuel delivery" not pin pointing why it isn't quite yet. In spraying starting fluid in throttle body makes it start or a good stumble when nothing happened before trying that you have a fuel issue. It doesn't pin point the pump just means you can focus on fuel and not other mandatory things for it to run.
Fuel pressure or lack of enough is just one reason. It might be caused by something else still. You need to know the pressure or you may just replace the pump to find out that wasn't the problem! That would cost tons more than pin pointing the problem if wrong or getting a gauge to test it. If you don't have access to one see if a local parts outlet rents them. Some one type of car specific ones only cost about $40 bucks to own,
T
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nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 15, 2013, 4:16 PM
Post #7 of 8
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Re: 2000 Ford Taurus Starting Issue
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Spraying ether or carb cleaner into the intake would help would help determine if you have a fuel issue, a spark issue, or a different issue entirely. If the engine fires up on the starting fluid, it would mean you have good spark and the spark is occurring at the right time. That eliminates a lot of things and focuses the diagnosis on a fuel issue. A few testing items are cheap to get to look at this. You need to test it when the car isn't starting. Your battery should be verified fully charged and tested to be in known good condition. Your battery cable connections must be shiny clean and tight. You can get an inline spark tester and a noid light from parts stores cheap. Might bew able to rent a fuel pressure gauge and that is screwed into a port on the fuel rail on most vehicles. Some of the newer Ford cars use returnless systems and won't give you a port to hook up to. Not sure if this one does. If you unplug one of the fuel injectors you can plug one of the noid lights in. When you crank the engine watch the light. If your ECM is sending pulses to the injectors, the light will flash.
There are more than one thing that needs to be tested here. The important thing is to test it during the failure. Only then will you be able to find out what you are missing. If the car is running everything will test good. If the car fires on the starting fluid, don't jump the gun and throw a fuel pump at it. You might get lucky, but you might waste several hundred dollars too. Right now what you need to do is find out what you aren't getting and we can diagnose this further.
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