My 1989 Mercury Topaz has about 50,000 miles on it. After 10 minutes of driving it starts losing power, and stalls out at lights, and wont start again, unless I let it sit for 10 minutes, and then it will start but only drive for about 2 minutes and start losing power again. I thought it was the alternator not working, but I checked with a voltmeter at the battery and it shows 13-14 volts with the alternator running, and 12 volt without the alternator running (car turned off). Do you know what could cause this?
Check fuel pressure. Sounds like a bad pump or plugged fuel filter.
You need to get a fuel pressure gauge and screw it on to the fuel rail. Drive the car with the gauge on it till it starts to loose power, then stop, get out and check the pressure. I think on this car fuel pressure should be about 35 psi. If it has been a long time since you replaced the fuel filter, I would just start with replacing it first. A fuel pressure gauge would cost about 25 dollars from a parts store or some of them might just let you borrow one.
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Check the controll moduel on the front of the distributor cap. you just have to unsrew two 7/32 " srews and unplug it. bing it to an auto store and they will check it for you.
i think this is the problem because on an 89 ford mercury the engine is sideways , and the distributor in front , inbetween the engine and the radiator. so it gets to hot, it starts to malfunction. thats why it runs good for 10 minutes and then after you let it cool down it runs again for a couple minuites.
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How do you check the fuel pressure?
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