Will not stay running

PINKHILLIKER

MEMBER
2004 MERCURY SABLE
3.8L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
112,000 MILES

My brother gave me the car. Told me it needed a fuel filter and new battery. When I got it towed to my house said fuel pump and new battery. The car has sat for 6 months, never started it, just sat. It was completely out of gas, water and oil was very low. Needed 3 quarts to fill it back up (no oil leak either). I put half a tank of gas in it, changed the fuel filter (the old filter was full of gas which leads me to believe the pump is working). When I finally get it to start it will idle for a couple minutes then shut down. I try to give it gas, but it just shuts down. The idle is running low too. What could it be?

I don't know if I entered all the info correctly as I don't know much about this car. I know how to fix cars 2000 and under. Anything over 2000 I'm not to good with.

3 Replies

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

Good morning,

I would start by checking the actual fuel pressure. The fact that it was out of fuel tells me the pump may be the issue. Running the pump with no fuel will damage and fail the pump.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-electric-fuel-pump

Roy

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Monday, April 5th, 2021 AT 7:40 AM

PINKHILLIKER

MEMBER
2 POSTS

It has fuel now. I'm going to see if I can borrow the pressure gauge from the part store. How can I check the fuel pump relay without removing it to see if that's the issue? It's one of those that's not a regular fuse. Someone told me I can take a relay from another slot that's not really needed while checking it, like the horn relay. Is that true?

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Monday, April 5th, 2021 AT 8:32 AM

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

The fact that it runs but very poorly tells me the relay is working or the fuel pump would not work if it was the issue.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

Yes, you can swap relays as they are the same.

I attached the location of the relay for you as well as the connector for the driver module. From the fact that it runs, I doubt either of these is the issue.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

Roy

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