Questions and Answers

Hard Starting Windstar Q. Hi, I'm having a problem with my 2000 Ford Windstar which I have had for about two months. I bought it used and I have just one problem. Lately it has developed a problem which causes it not to start. At first I would just crank the engine a second or maybe a third time and it would start with no other problems. Lately it will not start until I continue to crank while applying pressure on the gas pedal.

Now this does not always happen. It happens most often after I have been at work for 8 hours and I prepare to leave. When it happens I have to rev the engine with the gas pedal for several seconds before it will settle down. Releasing the gas pedal too soon cause the engine to falter and shut off with three or four seconds.

Once started I can drive it normally and turn the engine off and re-start it without any further problems.

Here are the details on the Windstar
2000 SE with approx 60,000 miles on it.
3.8 L Engine with Automatic
Fuel Injection
ABS
PS and AC

It always starts first thing in the morning with no problems. 90% of the times when it has failed are when I am at work and it is late afternoon. The outside temperatures have ranged from 60 - 80 degrees.

I hope you can help me figure this out.
Roy

A. Well Roy, I think the answer is fairly obvious. Quit your job and don't go to work. Then you won't have the problem. What? Don't like that solution? Okay, let's try something else then.

I think what is happening is either the fuel pressure regulator or one, or more, of the fuel injectors are leaking into the intake manifold causing it to flood. If it sits over night, it has time to dry out.

When you get in it and try to start it after work, you have to blow the excess fuel out before it will start. In essence, it's flooded. What you need to do is to perform a fuel pressure test to isolate where the fuel is coming from.

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