What is causing my car not to start?

Tiny
MJBAHR007
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 FORD TAURUS
  • 113,000 MILES
I have a 1999 Ford Taurus SE. Twice now, in the last 2 months, I have been driving around, stopping to go shopping. I return to the car 15 min after stopping and it will crank over but not start. Both times I have had a tow truck tow me about 15 miles to the service station. When the car is lowered and unhooked from the tow it starts right up. What could be causing this intermittent starting problem? There are no engine codes that show up. The fuel delivery system has been checked and seems ok. Any suggestions? Could a crank position sensor that has a loose harness or a sensor going bad cause these symptoms? Why does a tow seem to solve the problem?
Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 AT 10:20 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
Have you tried holding gas pedal down at various positions including floored when it wont start? If still wont start check for spark at spark plug.
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Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017 AT 11:59 AM
Tiny
MJBAHR007
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have tried holding the gas pedal at different positions including all the way down. Still cranks quickly but will not start. Sometimes in the first few seconds of cranking it will rough "rumble" like it wants to start but then that stops and it just cranks over without starting. I have not been able to check for spark at the spark plug at the time it does not start. By the time I have it towed to the service station it starts right up and runs well so it must have a spark then. There seems to be something about lifting the front end of the car and towing it that gets something working again, unless that is just a coincidence.
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Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017 AT 11:59 AM
Tiny
DR LOOT
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,311 POSTS
Sounds to me like he plugged fuel filter
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Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017 AT 11:59 AM

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