1996 Ford Taurus help!

WONDERJAVA

MEMBER
1996 FORD TAURUS
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
170,000 MILES

Hi I am having a problem with my taurus. I went out to start it today, and it wont start. The engine will crank but will not turn over. Cant look under the hood cause when you pull the latch it doesnt pop the hood up, I think its frozen shut. When you push on the brake. Its VERY stiff, you can push it maybe a half inch, so you cant put the car out of gear to move it. When you push on the accelerator its mushy. Can anyone help?

Thanks.

5 Replies

BILLYMAC

MECHANIC
2,204 POSTS

Hi
you say in your post, the eng will crank 'but will not turn over? Does this mean when you turn the key to start, you can hear the engine spinning?

Do you have lights on the dash when your key is on?

Have someone pull the cable and take a screw driver and see if you can pry the hood open.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 AT 8:02 PM

WONDERJAVA

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Yes it spins, cranks, but it wont start. Everything works as far as electrical. We took a flathead screw driver to pry open the hood, after we popped the latch. It was frozen shut. We also think the battery may be dead, because when we try to start it, the crank slows down now, like its dying? Its not normal speed anymore.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 AT 8:07 PM

BILLYMAC

MECHANIC
2,204 POSTS

Ok you have to get the hood open and charge the batt. It may be just the batterry but the hood has to come open. If the hood latch is pulling the hood cable. Dump some hot water over the hood near the latch and try the screwdriver

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 AT 9:22 PM

WONDERJAVA

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Ok how do you charge the battery?

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 AT 10:51 PM

WONDERJAVA

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Well we checked the battery, it is still good and the alternator is good as well. We found the fuel pump is dying, they did a fuel pressure test and found that the pressure is in the minimum range. This same problem has happened twice in 2 weeks now, just got the car outta the shop this morning, its running fine again until next time. Some think that its the extreme temperatures of winter in this area that is the culprit, but dont know. Last time this happened, the spark plugs were wet and the fuel filter was frozen and dirty. Apparently it was the factory original (wow). So they dried out the spark plugs, and put them back in, and replaced the fuel filter as well, but apparently these items are not the problem, as the car is still having problems with starting. Any help is appreciated.