1996 Ford Thunderbird Car won't turn over

WILDKNIGHT

MEMBER
1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
150,000 MILES

On my way home from work my car started to output less and less power as I drove home. Eventually I was flooring the pedal and the car would only creep along with the engine running rather rough and then it just stalled out.

I managed to get it to an autozone to check the engine light which showed a failed evaporation sensor in my gas tank.

I thought I might have some bad gas and treated it for water in the tank. When that didn't help I drained the fuel completely and put in new gas.

My car will not even turn over now. When I try to start it I hear the cylinders fire a few times but then the car just cranks with nothing else happening. I can only get the cylinders to fire a few times if it is left alone for a long while before I try to start again. I feel like this is all caused by some kind of faulty sensor, but I don't know which one it might be.

1 Reply

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Cranks but no start condition:

Fuel and Spark:
Get a helper disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine at least 3/16 away from ground -have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, coil's resistances, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors and computer Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it.