My car died today....

[Slowpoke]

Actually a better title to the thread is "My car would not start today!"

I think I ruled out the battery. It turns over and the engine cranks. It just wont 'catch' and run properly. Just before this happened I started it and drve maybe 20 feet and the car sputtered and then died.

I am guessing a fuel pump or clogged fuel filter.

Anyone car to diagnose it based on this description?

Also, what can I expect the repair to cost if its a fuel filter, or a fuel pump.

Sorry I haven't logged on in what seems like forever.. I really miss visitin MM.net! Unfortunately, my life is so incredibly busy that I hardly have time to breath let alone play here on mm.net.

In fact, I barely have time to even drive my car! [logged around 2,000 miles in the past seven months].

[Raudermaster]

Could also be the starter since you said it turned over but didn't catch. Sounds like the same thing to my g/f's little sister's car, and it ended up being the starter. But, if it was sputtering, like you said, could be the FF.

[KillJoy]

Fuel Filter, Fuel Pump or Starter..... buy the parts, do it yourself.

I have replaced them all.... they are NO BIGGIE!!! And DEFINATELY NOT worth the repair bill. Now the diagnosis fee.....that is another story ;)

KillJoy

[MENINBLK]

When was the last time you put fresh gasoline in the car ?
Are you using Sta-bil ?

[Slowpoke]

additional info:

I threw 10 gallons in on 5-28-07.

The car is in the suburbs, where it died. Thanks to American Express' free roadside assistance it's now sitting at a repair place, while I am 20 miles away and 500 feet up in the air.

I can't do the repairs myself. I do not have a driveway or garage that is conducive to replacing these items.

The towing charge to Zack's house would have been huge! Amex only covers a local tow.

[DEFYANT]

When was the last time you put fresh gasoline in the car ?
Are you using Sta-bil ?

+1

Good catch.

Start cheep - go for the fuel filter. It is a S I M P L E swap!

[RCSignals]

Well first of all it's great to see you here!

Being busy can be good. Still surrounded by pretty girls?

Now, the car does sound like a fuel problem. In the distributor and points days I'd have guessed an ignition problem.
I agree, try that fuel filter first. How 'fresh' does the fuel smell?

[whd507]

the new blends of gas we have today can go stale in less than 30 days. how old was the previous fuel?

[Slowpoke]

I did not taste the gas. Oddly enough, I did take the gas cap off and sniffed it. I am not sure what I was expecting, but it did smell like gas. No weird odors.

on 4-02 I put in 11 gallons
on 4-15 i put in 10 gallons
on 5-15 I put in 13 gallons
on 5-28, i put in 10 gallons

I am only averaging around 12 mpg. I've got 4:30 gears and driving is limited to stop and go city driving.

[RCSignals]

if it smelt like gas and not varnish, or something dead and rotting it's probably still OK

If you know you might let the car sit for more than 30 days before using it again you might want to add some sta-bil to the tank.

[GreekGod]

...the first thing to do is scan for trouble codes. A "ScanGauge" is an excellent plug-in tool for our MM's. It can give trouble codes, clear them, and tells much more (rpm, intake air temp, coolant temp, etc).

[OneBADLsE]

Check the coils...If the car is starting all the time and just feels like its missing, thats the first thing i would check(a'la scan tool, or simple trial and error by removing each wire till you find a dead cylinder. as mentioned prior, a scantool is a great thing. Theyre VERY HELPFUL!).

Secondly, do you hear any loud knocks or taps from the engine? When was the last oil change?

Third and foremost, check your plug wires to see if any varmits ate through them...You definatly would be surprised!

Hope i've helped

--Len

**EDIT** btW, i misread some of your post. I thought it said "car starts then dies" somewhere in the post. However, i would still apply what i said to finding a solution to your problem.

[RCSignals]

That's good advice Len, and back to the 'ignition' possibility

[Mike]

Fuel Filter, Fuel Pump or Starter..... buy the parts, do it yourself. KillJoy

^^ and you are who, the Helpful Ace Hardware Man??^^ :D

[greggash]

Here are my 2 cents:

You say it cranks, but does not catch.

----does it just crank, and no catching like it wants to start

------In the above case you have a sensor gone bad, crank or cam sensor

Cam sensor is on the drivers side front, tap it with a screwdriver handle, and give it a crank...
It could also be the crank sensor.

[Marauderjack]

Can you hear the fuel pump run when you turn the ignition to the "Run" position??:confused: If not I vote fuel pump or associated fuses!!:argue:

Marauderjack:cool:

[Zack]

Sounds like water in the gas.

[CRUZTAKER]

Poke!

It sure is nice to hear from you. But not under these circumstances.

Hope everything works out.

[MENINBLK]

Hi Poke,

Okay, you are putting in about 1/2 tank every two weeks.
That is fine for the fuel.
Are you filling it up at the same station each time ?

If you are able to do the work yourself, remove the fuel filter and pour the contents
of the fuel filter into a glass Pyrex measuring cup and let it settle.
When it settles, see if there is any water in the bottom of it.
If there is water in it, you may want to cycle the ignition on and off
a few times to allow the fuel pump to evacuate all of the water that has
accumulated in the bottom of your tank.

Then install the new filter and get yourself a can of dry gas that is formulated from Isopropyl Alcohol.
This will bind the fuel and remaining water together and allow it to burn as it passes through the fuel system.

[Slowpoke]

here is the update....

shop says the fuel pump has no pressure. I convinced them to get the SVT Focus pump and use that instead of the OEM one. They will get it this afternoon and do the work. They will, of course, also change the filter. Before they would agree to use something other than what the manufacturer suggested they wanted to know the exact Ford Part #, and Wes came to the rescue with that. It's 3S4Z9H307BC in case someone months from now needs to search for it; perhaps they will land on this thread.

By the way, my boy is four now! Many of you can recall when he was born; now he wants to drive "daddy's black car"!

[ckadiddle]

Good to see you again! Good luck with repairs.

[Ken]

Nobody mentioned the fuel pump shut-off switch in the trunk. Simplest and cheapest check. Mine would not fire after just sitting in the garage. Just touched the button, didn't feel any movement, but car immediately fired up, no further problems.

Ken

[Slowpoke]

I checked that while I was waiting for the flatbed to arrive. The tow truck guy ALSO checked that too. Said I'd be shocked at how many times a car goes over a pump and the thing shuts down. He is right, I WOULD be surprised at that.

[CRUZTAKER]

By the way, my boy is four now! Many of you can recall when he was born; now he wants to drive "daddy's black car"!

Dude...I so remember, and still have the first pics.

Gage starts 1st grade this year. OMG! They grow so fast at this point.

[Slowpoke]

what a disappointment....

the shop called this morning to say that they were only going to put in the OEM fuel pump, not the SVT pump I had requested. They him hawed with a bunch of reasons and explained that it would give me plenty of flow. I even explained that it had been done quite easily 100's of times and could have someone call him to explain that it is that easy but he insisted on using the oem pump.

I am tuck since it's way out in the north suburbs and don't feel like having it towed somewhere else to get it done.

oh well... at least I will get the car back and in working order. I really hope to hit 20,000 miles some day!

Thanks to all who posted comments here....

I still have a couple hundred pens, perhaps I should get off my ass and sell them to help pay for the repair!