1999 Mercury Villager Engine jumps, dies after 15 minutes d

JKIMBLE

MEMBER
1999 MERCURY VILLAGER

Engine Performance problem
1999 Mercury Villager 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 220K miles

The car will start and run (typically fine) but after driving about 10 minutes it will start missing and jumping. It may stall and be hard to start or not start at all. I've replaced cap, rotor, plugs, wires air and fuel filter. Cleaned throttle body and mass air flow sensor. No difference.

I disassembled the distributor but I don't see any evidence of a mechanical issue with the encoder or sensor.

What's the most likely thing here? I hate to through a distributor at something like this. Are there a few cheaper possibilities first?

1 Reply

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

It may stall and be hard to start or not start at all next time it happens don't wait do below to determine if its fuel or spark problem.

Get a helper disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine atleast 3/16 in away from ground have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, coil's resistances, cap and rotor /distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, ECM, Ignitor camshaft and crankshaft sensors and computer. Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it