1987 Ford Taurus MT-5

WILLIAM BELL

MEMBER
1987 FORD TAURUS

I have a 1987 Ford Taurus with 87,000+ miles. I have put almost $1,500 in this car since it was GAVE to me. So much for a free car! The car was running better than it ever had. I drove it all over the place with no problems. One day I stopped at a friends and shut it off, just like always. About two hours later I went back out and it would not start. I checked it out and I am not getting fuel to the injectors or fire to the cylinders. I reset the fuel relay in the trunk and there was no change. I replaced the engine control modgule on the distributor and still no change. I replaced the coil pack as well and still no fire, no fuel. I am suspecting this is cause by the main computer under the dash but would like to know what you two think before I go into any more costly repairs. After all this car was suppose to be FREE. I guess you can get burnt on a free car after all. I would greatly appreciate any information you may have for me.

1 Reply

TAURUSWHEEL

MECHANIC
718 POSTS

Watch it, I bought a new 1987 Taurus MT5 wagon, just junked it this year due to excessive body rot, hands down, one of the most reliable cars i've ever owned. 187k miles. If you have a MT5, it has only one injector in the throttle body. 4 cyl engine. You need to check fuel pressure, see if the pump is working. If it happens again where the car won't start, go smack the right side of the fuel tank, use your foot, hand whatever, see if it will start. Fuel pumps that are failing sometimes respond this way, mine did. As for the pcm failing, not a common problem, unless of course water finds it's way to it. These are simple cars with not a lot of complicated parts. Is there a check engine light? Mine didn't have one, get a code reader for Ford obdI, about 30 bucks or so, easy to use, see if any codes active or stored. Could also be the black box, integrated controller relay as it was known then, the fuel pump relay is located inside and is not serviceable unless you are competent to take it apart and replace it if needed. No reason to reset the inertia switch in the trunk, it is not the fuel pump relay, unless the car is hit in the rear which will shut it off to cut fuel flow. It's also disconnected to remove fuel pressure from the engine when needed. Those are two seperate issues you raise, no spark and no pressure.