2001 Taurus will not start when hot

SOURCE: FUEL PUMP

Maybe you have a faulty fuel pump, but first is there gas in the tank? How do you know? Has your fuel guage failed? If you have added fuel recently, have you traveled far enough to burn all the fuel? You'd be surprised how often I find faulty fuel guages after spending too much time trying to diagnose a no-start suspected fuel delivery problem. If you have ANY doubt, please add 1 gallon of fuel to the tank. Now turn the key to the run position, DO NOT TRY TO START THE ENGINE! The pump should run for about 30 seconds to prime the fuel system. You should be able to hear it running in a quiet environment, but you can stick a funnel in the fuel fill inlet and listen while an assistant turns the key to the run position. (Have them shut the driver's door, the Ford Key in ingition alert chime is so loud it may prevent you from hearing the pump run) If you can hear the pump run, and you get no fuel, it's time to check the in line fuel filter that no one ever seems to get around to changing! BE CAREFUL THOUGH BECAUSE IF THE PUMP RAN, YOU JUST PRESSURIZED THE FUEL SYSTEM, AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SPRAY WILL GREET YOU WHEN YOU TRY TO SERVICE THE IN LINE FILTER. Also, if you've never replaced one of these Ford in line fuel filters, you will discover a retainer that will have to be dealt with for filter removal. If yours is an all-steel coupler, you will need a fuel line disconnect tool to disassemble this connection. DO NOT TRY TO DISCONNECT IT WITHOUT THAT TOOL, or you will get to enjoy the fun of replacing the entire line when you damage the coupler. If your coupler is plastic, it also has a removal plastic retainer. Make sure your new filter includes the retainer clips, they are horse-shoe shaped plastic clips. Once you see the replacements, you'll recognize what you should be looking for. Once you verify that you have two new clips, you can break the old ones to remove them, be careful NOT TO DAMAGE the couple on the line. If your pump didn't run, you'll probably need to replace it. If you don't know how to remove and replace a fuel tank, and if you don't possess the proper fuel module retainer wrench, and if you're not sure how many hoses, lines, sensors, or elecrtical connectors need to be removed, now might be a good time to seek professional assistance. BEWARE! Most mechanics won't accept a job you have started, but can not complete! They call those "basket cases" because most people bring in the removed components in some kind of basket. I always charge extra on "Basket Cases" but only if you're persuasive enough to convince me to accept the job! Long story short... Listen for the pump to run during the prime interval, if it doesn't, you can check the fuel pump relay, and the inertial switch. Usually these Ford inertial switches on Tauruses are in the trunk on the Driver's side close to the trunk lid hinge, they will pop-out kind of like a circuit breaker upon an impact with the vehicle. It's there to interrupt the fuel pump in the event of an accident. They can also be tripped by a severe chuck-hole encounter, a tow truck ride, or other various sorts of impacts. Remember, it's not a good idea to try to handle a full fuel tank without the proper equipment and training, it's not much fun with a half full tank either so be extremely careful! DO NOT EVER ATTEMPT TO WORK UNDERNEATH A VEHICLE WITHOUT SAFETY STANDS PROPERLY SUPPORTING THE VEHICLE IN A PROVEN STABLE CONDITION! Once raised and supported you must try to physically knock the vehicle off the stands to prove that it's in a stable condition BEFORE ANYONE EVER GETS UNDERNEATH IT!
This procedure involves life threatening dangers including fire hazards, explosion hazards, and danger associated with being crushed by the vehicle! ONLY PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL should attempt to perform these dangerous services. If you ignore these warnings, you do so at your own risk!

SOURCE: have spark,no fire,sprayed starter fluid into throtle body but does not start

Turn key forward listen for the fuel pump to pressurize if you don't here anything then your fuel pump needs replaced and it's in the tank.

SOURCE: 2001 expedition cranks but wont start

If the engine cranks over normally when you attempt to start you car, but the engine does not start, the problem may be NO FUEL, NO SPARK or NO COMPRESSION. The engine needs adequate fuel pressure, a properly timed spark and normal compression to start.

1) To find why the engine won't start, remove the air inlet tube from the throttle body, push the throttle open and spray a small amount of aerosol starting fluid into the engine. Crank the engine. If it has spark and compression but NO FUEL, it will start and run a few seconds before dying. If it does NOT start, it probably has NO SPARK.

2)Another method to check for spark is to pull a spark plug wire off of a spark plug (if it has plug wires, coil-on-plug ignitions do not) and place the open end of the plug wire near a metal surface on the engine. Have a helper crank the engine while you watch for a spark. DO NOT hold the wire while doing this as it can shock you. If you see a spark, the problem is not spark, but most likely NO FUEL or NO COMPRESSION. If you do not see a spark, the problem is in the IGNITION CIRCUIT.

3)Proper fuel pressure is critical for fuel injected engines to start and run. You should hear the fuel pump inside the fuel tank buzz for a couple of seconds when the ignition is turned on (no buzz means the pump is not running and the engine is not getting fuel). You can smell the tailpipe for gasoline vapors after cranking the engine. If you smell gas, the problem is likely not fuel but NO SPARK. You can also remove the plastic cap and press the schraeder valve test fitting on the fuel rail to see if there is any fuel pressure to the engine (not a very accurate test because fuel pressure must be at a certain level for the engine to start, for that you need a gauge). Even so, no fuel at the fuel rail would tell you fuel is not getting to the engine..

SOURCE: 2001 ford focus will not start. The engine will

I will try to help you. You are correct about the starting fluid, if it has fire starting fluid should do something. So the problem must be either no fire to the plugs or the timing belt is broke.

Check to see if the plugs have spark. If they do not, then get with the Autoparts store and ask if your car needs a Ignition relay to run. Then ask if your car takes a rubber timing belt. If your car does not have a rubber timing belt try the Ignition relay. If you do have a rubber belt check behind the shield in front of the engine to see if the timing belt is broke.

The timing belt is different than the serpetine belt that drives the pulleys. Cars with rubber timing belts have both belts. Should your timing belt be broken it is not an expensive repair. But you will need to details on replacement of that part.

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Duane Wong

• 6826 Answers
• Posted on Aug 01, 2010

SOURCE: After sitting, hard to start

OPERATION The Idle Air Control (IAC) valve controls the engine idle speed and dashpot functions. The valve is located on the throttle body on. This valve allows air to bypass the throttle plate. The amount of air is determined by the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and controlled by a duty cycle signal. Fig. 1: Cleanable IAC valve — 5.0L engine version shown, others similar
Fig. 2: Non-cleanable IAC valve — 5.0L engine version shown, others similar
TESTING OBD-I System

1. Make sure the ignition key is OFF.
2. Disconnect the air control valve.
3. Use an ohmmeter to measure the resistance between the terminals of the valve solenoid. NOTE: Due to the diode in the solenoid, place the ohmmeter positive lead on the VPWR pin and the negative lead on the ISC pin.
   
4. If the resistance is not 7–13 ohms, replace the air control valve.

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Disconnect the engine wiring to the IAC sensor.
3. Remove the two retaining screws for the valve.
4. Remove the IAC valve and discard of the old gasket. Fig. 2: Disengage the idle air control solenoid electrical connection
   Fig. 3: Loosen the idle control solenoid retaining screws
   Fig. 4: Remove the idle air control solenoid from the throttle body
   To install:
   
5. Clean the area of old gasket material.
6. Using a new gasket, attach the IAC valve to the engine. Tighten the retaining screws to 71–102 inch lbs. (8–12 Nm).
7. Connect the IAC valve wiring to the unit.
8. Connect the negative battery cable.

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