Questions and Answers
Intermittent No Start
Q. I have a question about my car. I have a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria (4.6 liter) with 116,000 miles. Over the last couple of weeks I have had this problem of it not starting about every fourth time. It turns over but it won't start. I have found that if I spray starting fluid in the air intake the car will then start and run fine.
Someone told me that it might be the Cam Position sensor? I know that is a relatively easy and inexpensive fix. What else do you think it might be. I hope its not the fuel pump. Thanks for the help!
Keith
A. An intermittent no start condition like this can be very difficult to diagnose. But the good thing is that you narrowed it down to a fuel problem. The down side is the problem may have to become more persistent before you can accurately diagnose it.
I would start with checking the power to the fuel pump when it won't start. You may have a sticking fuel pump relay. You might also be losing fuel pressure over night so I would do a fuel pressure test and make sure I still have pressure in the morning.
Another possibility is the fuel cutoff switch in the trunk. It's not unheard of for them to to cause a problem like this.
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