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2001 Ford Taurus won't start sometimes but turns over


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Jooshua
New User

Oct 25, 2011, 5:56 PM

Post #1 of 8 (15824 views)
2001 Ford Taurus won't start sometimes but turns over Sign In

My 2001 Ford Taurus turns over but won't start.. it seems to not start when it's cold.. but it will start for days at a time and then one day it's hard to start.. I've been going out every 4 hours to start it for the last couple of months to make sure it starts in the morning.. but it didn't start yesterday and hasn't started since.

I opened up the column above the steering wheel and there is some sort of yellow clay type good in the starter area I don't know if that's factory seal or not.

I finally called a mechanic and he said all he had to do was replace the 'cold start module' for $800.. I don't have that kind of money and I can't find anything called a 'cold start module' online.. anybody know what could be wrong with my car?


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Oct 25, 2011, 6:04 PM

Post #2 of 8 (15815 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus won't start sometimes but turns over Sign In


Quote
I opened up the column above the steering wheel and there is some sort of yellow clay type good in the starter area I don't know if that's factory seal or not.


I don't understand what you mean here.




Quote
I finally called a mechanic and he said all he had to do was replace the 'cold start module' for $800


Your mechanic, if a mechanic, is feeding you a line of BS.


When it doesn't want to start, you need to check for spark, fuel pressure, and injector pulse. One or more of those things are going to be missing when the engine doesn't want to start. Once you know what is missing you can figure out why by using diagnostic techniques and troubleshoot practices.

Most DIY are poor at troubleshoot complex vehicle systems, so your best bet is to have it towed to a professional licensed repair shop.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 25, 2011, 6:04 PM

Post #3 of 8 (15812 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus won't start sometimes but turns over Sign In

That's because there is no such part. You definitely need to call a different mechanic.

Here is a systematic way to isolate the cause.

All "crank, no start" conditions are approached in the same way. Every engine requires certain functions to be able to run. Some of these functions rely on specific components to work and some components are part of more than one function so it is important to see the whole picture to be able to conclude anything about what may have failed. Also, these functions can ONLY be tested during the failure. Any other time and they will simply test good because the problem isn't present at the moment.
If you approach this in any other way, you are merely guessing and that only serves to replace unnecessary parts and wastes money.



Every engine requires spark, fuel and compression to run. That's what we have to look for.

These are the basics that need to be tested and will give us the info required to isolate a cause.

1) Test for spark at the plug end of the wire using a spark tester. If none found, check for power supply on the + terminal of the coil with the key on.


2) Test for injector pulse using a small bulb called a noid light. If none found, check for power supply at one side of the injector with the key on.


3) Use a fuel pressure gauge to test for correct fuel pressure, also noticing if the pressure holds when key is shut off.

4) If all of these things check good, then you would need to do a complete compression test.

Once you have determined which of these functions has dropped out,
you will know which system is having the problem.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Jooshua
New User

Oct 25, 2011, 6:52 PM

Post #4 of 8 (15787 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus won't start sometimes but turns over Sign In

Ya I don't know anything about cars but when I googled that and nothing came up I knew he was BSing me.

Discretesignals, I'll try to make that clearer, I opened up the top panel above the steering wheel and inside was a yellow type goo everywhere

Hammer Time, sorry I'm new here after I posted this I saw your toubleshooting guide I will try those things and get back to you guys.

Thank you!


(This post was edited by Jooshua on Oct 25, 2011, 6:58 PM)


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Oct 25, 2011, 7:06 PM

Post #5 of 8 (15782 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus won't start sometimes but turns over Sign In

Can you take a picture of this goo under the upper column shroud and post it in here? Curious to see what you mean.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 25, 2011, 7:23 PM

Post #6 of 8 (15776 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus won't start sometimes but turns over Sign In

Sounds like it might be white grease.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Oct 25, 2011, 7:28 PM

Post #7 of 8 (15770 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus won't start sometimes but turns over Sign In

Could be the typical grease with the hair, dirt, and cigarette ashes in it from the turn signal switch...LOL.

Be unusual if the whole inside was coated with it though.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


Jooshua
New User

Oct 25, 2011, 7:52 PM

Post #8 of 8 (15761 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus won't start sometimes but turns over Sign In

Ya it's night out and all I have is a phone cam so I will take a picture tomorrow so it comes out better.






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