Ford Taurus only starting in warmer weather.

[bk7794]

Here is my Saga:

I’m from up in the North East where we’ve had some record cold temperatures these last few weeks. The Cold seems to have taken its toll on my Taurus because the car now will now start intermittently. I’ve narrowed down the issue to the fuel pump. When I turn the car on, the pump will not prime. This is generally in cold weather keep in mind.

Now, this is where it gets weird. I got stuck at work one day and they were kind enough to let me borrow an extension cord. I was recommended by a few people that maybe water got into the gas and froze up the filter. It happened to me a few years back one time where in the cold weather the filter actually cracked open. I sat with a hair dryer warming up the fuel filter. The car would pop and stutter a bit until one time it eventually started. The ambient temp was probably around 20 degrees. I drove it for a few days until one day in the driveway I was playing with the ignition. I turned it on and off a few times to hear if the pump would prime. It primed about 2 times and then it just stopped. The pump would not prime when I turned the ignition on. So I changed the filter thinking maybe something was wrong with the filter like before. It was about 15 or 20 degrees outside and the pump was indeed priming. The car started but immediately died of fuel starvation. The pump would not prime after that.

It sat for about 2 or 3 weeks until yesterday. It was around 40 degrees or so outside. Maybe more. I played with the ignition. No prime, I then tried it again and the pump primed and the car started right up. The car ran very well and I took the engine up to about 4 or 5k rpm and the car felt very strong.

So my question do you think the pump is dying? I would hate to drop the tank and replace the pump with it not being the pump. In order to test if the pump is getting voltage I would have to drop the tank anyways, at that point I probably would replace the pump anyways. I have tested the switch in the trunk, it does work fine. The relay DOES click when the pump does not prime.

Car has 220,000 miles and has the 3.0l Vulcan OHV V6

Also, in before someone else links to this video. Also if you do link to a video, please tell me where you think I should pay attention to and why. Too many times I just get a video that says check this out. Many times I’ve stated in the original post exactly what was done in the video.

Thanks.

[video]http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2TrjxYLyj4[/video]

Thoughts?

TLDR: Fuel pump is not priming during cold weather, when the weather warms up pump works and car runs great.

Topic

[Lorrin Barth]

The next time it acts up, set the parking brake and have someone turn the key while you thump the tank with a mallet or something similar. Don’t get carried away and dent the tank. If that causes the pump to start you need a pump.

[bk7794]

I did try to give the tank a bang with my hand. Probably not enough force right? Interesting proposal, going to give it a shot next time.

[KZ 259]

Have you tried seeing what the PSi is from the fuel pressure port?

[bk7794]

I have not but I’ll definitely have to do that. However, I feel like I’ll have nothing to compare it to. It’ll just be a number. Where could I go to determine the ‘optimal’ fuel pressure? I remember seeing a video about fuel pressure, but all manufacturers are different, no?

Nevermind, a quick Google search works wonders. Not sure how accurate the statement is but its a start.

http://www.justanswer.com/ford/5g9fh-ford-taurus-proper-fuel-pressure-2001-ford.html

[EricTheCarGuy]

If you suspect the pump, in the end you’ll need to verify if it’s getting power and ground when it’s not ‘priming’ as you say. If it is getting power and ground and not running, the pump is likely bad and needs replacing. More info here.

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-no-start-problems

Good luck and keep us posted.

[bk7794]

Alright, I’ll have to take a look. Took it out for a drive today, definitely under 32 degrees. Car started and ran extremely well. I’ll have to look at the fuel pressure to see if that is causing any issues. I’ll take a look at the site you linked me to and the videos.

I’ll have to get the car up on jacks to see how the wiring looks.

[bk7794]

So I want to give an update over the last week. The car has probably been started almost once every day for the last week. The car started every time. I took the car up to WOT a few times just to see if I experienced any abnormalities. Engine sounded fine. Pulled fine as well. Didn’t notice anything out of the norm.

I just fear taking this car out and it getting stuck somewhere inconvenient like a stop light haha…

What are your thoughts?

I also have not gotten a Fuel Pressure gauge yet. Still working on getting time to get that done. I’ve also thought about the potential of a bad ground. Any thoughts on that as well?

[Dan]

I’m having some fuel problems with my 2001 escape with the 3.0 engine but what you are talking about really sounds like a wire problem ( live or ground ) . you said it’s been running strong when it runs so that would make me think that the pump is holding pressure but is cutting out for reason’s of losing electrical power . yes i would start checking wire’s and plug’s

[bk7794]

Which 3.0 did they put in an escape?

Problem is that the pump, along with all the wiring is on top of the tank. No real way to get there other than dropping the tank anyways.

[Lorrin Barth]

Maybe keep a mallet in the trunk just as a threat. My car started running rough one day so I drove it over to the used car lot. It has been fine since.

[bk7794]

So, here’s an update.

After about a month or two of driving, the car started every time. Really no issues to report. There were days when it was below freezing and it started right up. So we shall see what it does throughout the summer/winter next year.

[Author]

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