Car randomly won't start. What's the deal? for Questionland Seattle

Reputation: 1892

Car randomly won't start. What's the deal?

I drive a 1996 Ford Exploder. It's been a good low-maintenance car for me, with one exception.

One day in 2007, I started the car up and drove to the grocery store. Shopped, came out, and the car wouldn't start. Called family for help. When they arrived, the car started just fine.

Since then, it's happened about 10 more times (I used to live in Port Angeles and was always terrified it would happen when getting off the Edmonds ferry). I have no idea what's wrong.

When it happens, I turn the key and it makes all the normal startup-vroom noises. But when I release the key, the electricity stays on (fan, radio, whatever), but the engine goes nearly dead...enough that I can sort of roll along, but I have no power steering, and the car lurches if I hit the gas, and usually dies a few seconds later. The engine is nearly silent, but the whole car just shakes. It's sort of like a false start. If I turn it off and try it again, same thing.

The one time I managed to limp it into a repair place, they could't start it either. It was closing time. The next morning, it started right up. They replaced my fuel pump and flushed out the system, but it's still happened a few times since then.

It never happens the first time I start the car in a day. It happens after I've driven around somewhere and made a stop or two.

I live in a rural area with no friends or family around, and I don't have a cell. I'm always worried that I'm going to get stuck somewhere.

What's going on? Vapor lock? Something else? Is there anything I can do?

Sacrelicious asked in Cars & Motorcycles 10 months ago | Report

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My first thought is fuel pump, but you already replaced that. How about the relay that controls the fuel pump?

Mahtli69 answered in Cars & Motorcycles 10 months ago | Report

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Possibly work ignition switch that is closing some switches, but not the ignition switch sometime?

How many keys are on your key ring?
You should have as little weight as possible on your key ring, especially the older the car, as every bump with weight "cuts" the notches of the key deeper, more blunt, less effectively.
Wears out the key, wears out the lock.

it's A bad practice: Reduce the weight on your key ring immediately.

O my captain commented 10 months ago | Report

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Re: Mahtli. I...don't know?

Re: Captain: My key ring weights a thousand pounds. I have a wallet full of cards on it, and probably about 8 various keys.

Reducing. Doesn't explain why the car fails after waiting some time, but sounds like good practice anyway.

Sacrelicious commented 10 months ago | Report

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I had this exact same issue in an old Honda many moons ago.

It is very likely the ignition coil. This is not too expensive and can be replaced by most. Skill level 1 or 2 on most cars.

It would not hurt to replace spark plugs and cap and rotor if they have not been done in the last 10,000 miles after replacing the coil.

Do not do it all at once. Replace coil first, then check to see that everything is working fine.

SNAPHEAT answered in Cars & Motorcycles 9 months ago | Report

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Sounds more electrical... Check your battery, alternator, and the starter. Sometimes the starter can hog all the power and cause things like that to happen. Bad battery is a duh. If it's failing then it will act like that... And the alternator is what charges that so if that isn't working properly then that could be your problem. Have you checked all that. After you do check your grounds and all that. Most all auto parts stores will check your voltage and amperage for free...

DrewJames answered in Cars & Motorcycles 10 months ago | Report

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This vague and undiscoverable type of problem is my worst nightmare. I drive all the time but don't know where the fuel filter is. I'd personally be thinking of armor alling the entire car and negotiating down until it's sold.

Kevin Shurtluff answered in Cars & Motorcycles 10 months ago | Report

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When the mechanic couldn't start the Explorer did they check and see if the fuel system remained pressurized? Have you ever serviced the fuel injection?

Intermittent problems are always the worst. Fuel injection issues (if that's what it is) can be especially maddening- at least to me as my mechanical skill set largely stops at carbs.

There are lots of sensors and, I think, the air fuel mix is computer controlled. If anything in that system is off the truck may not idle well.

There are lots of good specialty forums for fords in general and explorers in particular. You may wish to ask there.

Tom answered in Cars & Motorcycles 10 months ago | Report

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When I got the car's fuel stuff fixed a few years ago, I think they serviced the fuel injection, yes.

It seemed like a mechanical problem, since letting the car sit overnight seemed to resolve the issue. But I know Fords have a history of electrical problems (my interior lights are slowly leaving me, and god help me if I turn on my emergency flashers), so maybe it's related to that.

Sacrelicious commented 10 months ago | Report

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