My engine will not start up why?

Tiny
RANDALL729
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR
  • 4.6L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 142,000 MILES
This has been occurring lately with this car. I start up the car and let it idle for about 20 minutes so the windows defrost. I then try to drive it but it will stall and it will not start up. After about 30 minutes it will start up. This has happened 2 or 3 times now. I have recently replaced the relays under the hood driver side. The car has a new battery and a new 130 amp alternator. Any suggestions about this would be appreciated. Thank you very much.
Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 7:45 AM

34 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
This sounds very much like a crankshaft position sensor that is failing.

I attached a bit of info about this which explains in more detail. However, the basic point is that the sensor gets hot and it fails which causes the vehicle to shut off and not restart. Then when the sensor cools off it closes the circuit again and the vehicle operates as normal until it does this again.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-crankshaft-sensor

Clearly this could be other things but this is the most likely cause.

Let me know if you have questions. Thanks
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Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 11:10 AM
Tiny
RANDALL729
  • MEMBER
  • 59 POSTS
I am going to put one in tomorrow. I'm glad it's up top. I didn't realize these things are so sensitive to heat. I may have to get back with you if I experience problems. I do thank you so much. Randall Beard, Pickford, Mi.
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Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 2:56 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Sounds great. You are welcome. We are here for whatever you need. Let us know what happens. Thanks
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Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 6:13 PM
Tiny
RANDALL729
  • MEMBER
  • 59 POSTS
I will let you know and 2CarPros always have the answer so is why I ask great people like yourself.
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Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 9:02 PM
Tiny
RANDALL729
  • MEMBER
  • 59 POSTS
Sorry to bother again. The car quit on me again and the operating temperature was between cold and half way to normal. Could the crankshaft position sensor fail and not be working? Maybe one of the relays are failing. These are the relays on driver side under hood and 5 prong. I put in new relays a short time ago. Any comments would be helpful. Thank you.
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Saturday, January 25th, 2020 AT 6:07 PM
Tiny
RANDALL729
  • MEMBER
  • 59 POSTS
Now the car will not start at all with the engine temperature cold. I tried some different relays but is not making any difference. Could it be now that the crankshaft pos sensor has completely gone bad?
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Sunday, January 26th, 2020 AT 1:11 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Yes. It can cause a stall or a no start. If the engine is cranking and not starting then the crank sensor is the most likely cause.

Did you replace it before and now it is doing this?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-crankshaft-sensor
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Sunday, January 26th, 2020 AT 6:33 PM
Tiny
RANDALL729
  • MEMBER
  • 59 POSTS
I put in the new part I think was less than 6 months ago. I replaced all the relays. I also replaced the the camshaft sensor as well. The crankshaft position sensor at the bottom of the engine must be the problem. I have eliminated the relays as a problem. Has to be what you are suggesting to look for. Thank you 2CarPros Kasekenny1. But I may have to ask more questions about my car to get it running if okay.
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Sunday, January 26th, 2020 AT 8:20 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
I agree that the crank sensor sounds like the issue. I included the info about it and the process to do it. They are not too hard on these engines.

Please ask as many questions as you need. We are here to assist. Most of us have complete vehicle knowledge and if one of us doesn't know, others will jump in and help out.

If you have questions related to this topic, just post them here. However, if they are different then go ahead and start a new post. Basically we need to keep each post to one topic so that others can find the issues when they are searching for solutions on their own.

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new
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Monday, January 27th, 2020 AT 7:00 PM
Tiny
HAROLDPIERCE8213
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR
  • 4.6L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 178,800 MILES
The car will turn over but will not start. I have replaced; the fuel pressure regulator, plugs, MAF, crank sensor, cam sensor, temperature sensor, fuel filter. It has me stumped any help would be great. Thanks
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 8:23 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good afternoon.

Have you checked for spark or fuel pressure? These two need to checked to see which one is missing.

If you have some starter fluid, spray it into the air filter and see if the car starts and stalls.

Roy
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 8:23 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RENEE L
  • ADMIN
  • 1,260 POSTS
Hello HAROLDPIERCE8213,

Thank you for visiting 2CarPros. Here is a helpful link to an article from this site with step by step instructions and pictures explaining the process of checking the fuel system pressure, regulator and fuel pump in less than fifteen minutes:

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

Also, here is a link to an article on this site on checking for spark:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

If you need further assistance please come back to the site we are always happy to help.

Kindest regards,

Renee
Admin
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 8:23 AM (Merged)
Tiny
FRED CONTENTO
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 279,000 MILES
Will not start in cold weather with either thirty two degrees or if snow on the ground.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 8:24 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
Hello,

This sounds like a classic engine coolant temperature sensor. What happens is the sensor becomes weak and does not sense the true temperature so it causes a hard start condition.

Here is a guide that will help you see what you are in for when doing the job:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-temperature-sensor-cts-replacement

Here is what it will be like on your car (below).

Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 8:24 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SMI889
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 LINCOLN TOWN CAR
I have a 93 Lincoln Towncar, 4.6L engine with 80,000 miles. Had no previous problems. Went to start it one day and it cranked as normal and wouldn't start. Could not pull the OBD codes. Have 40PSI on the fuel rail, spark thru the plugs, new crank sensor, cam sensor reads good, no anti-theft system. Sprayed carb cleaner into air intake and it fired and died. I suspect the injector circuit and went to disconnect the ECM plug but the bolt spins and cannot remove the plug. Do you have any suggestions other than the ECM being bad? Thanks!
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 8:24 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TOBYU
  • MEMBER
  • 89 POSTS
You probably got it fixed by now. But.
You said it had a new crank sensor. Get a noid light and check for injector pulse when cranking.
I bet the crank sensor is bad or the wires going to it have a loose connection or are cut or damaged.
If you have no injector pulse. The most likely is crank sensor but an ecm can do it.
I have a used one that works fine if you need to try one cheap.
There is also a ECM relay in on the driver's fender well.
Three relays together and a diode if I remember correctly.
One is AC compressor, one fuel pump and one ECM/PCM.
Swap those around and then check the "87" terminal of the relay socket for 12v.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 8:24 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MURRAY MALONE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 LINCOLN TOWN CAR
  • 197,000 MILES
My inlet heater core hose ruptured and water came out while I was on the highway. I replaced the hose replaced the spark plugs and wires. The engine will crank but it will not start. I know water got over the engine. I’ve change the CPS Sensor but still will not turn over. What do I do?
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 8:24 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I'm Danny.

First thing I suggest would be to clean the throttle position sensor. It's possible it got engine coolant inside the connector when the hose blew. Here is a tutorial showing what is involved for removal and replacement for a mass air flow sensor which is similar:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/mass-air-flow-service

I've attached a picture below of what your throttle position sensor looks like on your car. Let us know what you find. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 8:24 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PAUL40
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 LINCOLN TOWN CAR
  • V12
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 176,000 MILES
This condition occurs if the car has not been started during the past six hours as if a vacuum leak occurs. After this length of time can be started by priming thru the throtle body. Have already replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter and pressure regulator. Also during the past month of trying to remedy the check engine light has not shown.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 8:25 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Sounds like an injector leaking. But you can try unplugging the MAF on the air filter box, if it starts, the MAF is dirty, or out of range. Pressure leakdown test the fuel system if MAF is OK.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 8:25 AM (Merged)

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