Escape Starting Issues(kinda long)

[Odrapnew]

I was hoping someone might have an idea with my mommies car. She has a 2002 Escape w/ 3L motor. It has about 75K miles( extended warrantee just expired I think).

She has had this problem happen 3 times. The engine will turn over just fine, but it will not fire. No sputter or anything. If she comes back to it about 20 minutes later it will start fine and run for a few months. These occurances have happend on a cold and hot engine, and in both winter and summer months. The occurances have happened at no difinite interval (random and probably over 6 months apart).

My first guess was the fuel filter, replaced but still happend after.

I think something on the throttle body was replaced a few times(might have been the whole assembly). It was actually fixed a few days before the last occurance. Wondering if the IAC might be causing problems (read it somewhere but usually stalling issues not starting issues)

Fuel pump is another question, but it happens at such random intervals it makes me wonder if its the problem and its hard to explain to her to turn on the key and listen for the fuel pump to cycle(plus the stupid door chime is so loud).

It's at the dealership right now and of course they cant recreate the problem so they dont know whats happening.

Anyone have any ideas?

Nick

[2 beer]

if you cant recreate the problem there is nothing you can do. You need to be able to check fuel and spark while its happening and go from there.

[Odrapnew]

I hear ya. The problems with that is it usually happens way away from home(tools) and its so random that ya never know when its gunna happen.

I would give my mom my timing light, but it doesnt have any sparkplug wires and thats how the one I have works.

My guess it has something to do with either spark, or fuel injectors. Even if the fuel pump is bad, if there is a little fuel in the lines and can flow into the engine, I would think it should sputter or cough.

[greasemonkey22]

This sounds like a definite ignition probelm in my mind. there may be a short, or worn wire that shorts only certain times in the ignition circut, but its not throwing any codes is it? hell i dont know

[ACRucrazy]

PATS

[Fastrnu]

My 03 Taurus does the same thing. Code that comes up is related to the anti theft system. Ford told me the chip in the key is not recognized by the sensor in the steering column. It was a $250 part then computer needed to be reflashed. Mine has only done it in the cold though.

Check engine light does not come on. Fuel pump does cycle. Just no spark.

[RyanM]

it needs a fuel pump

[Chrm97PI]

does she have a bunch of other things on her key chain?? does the escape have the push pad button entry on the door?? does it have remote start??

[Odrapnew]

No codes, otherwise the dealership would have found them. I also found out that the dealership gave her an open invitation for warantee work since they couldnt find it last week. Its only for this time(at the dealership) and for this particular problem.

does she have a bunch of other things on her key chain?? does the escape have the push pad button entry on the door?? does it have remote start??

I cant remeber what she has on her keychain, I think just a small flashlight. No keypad and no remote start. I know she has two keys and key fobs on different chains.

Maybe I'll check with her on the anti theft stuff.

Thanks for the ideas.

[Chrm97PI]

there are ssm's out there that say you could have pats starting issues if you have too much metal on the keychain, and cause the key not to transmit

[Odrapnew]

I remember my 01 ranger manual said something like that. It should only be the key and the key fob on one ring. I'll mention that to her.


To let you all know, I probably wont be able to update you since its such a random problem. But I might be able to recreate it by putting some extra keys on the ring.

[RyanM]

fuel pump

[Odrapnew]

fuel pump

Why would it happen at random times? Don't get me wrong, it's on the list of possiblities. I've just never had one just stop working for a little while and then start working again.

I talked to my mom today and asked about the key ring. When it was acting up, the guy at the dealership was on the phone and asked if the theft light was blinking rapidly but I guess it wasnt so I assume the anti theft isnt a problem.

She also mentioned that as far as she can remember, it hasnt happend on a cold engine. The last 2 times its happend after it was shut off for a few minutes to less than 2 hours. I want to say the most recent episode happened when the engine was warm(not to operating temperature), because she moved it from a parking ramp into the ramp under her building(i assume its somewhat heated) and it sat for a few hours. She tried to start it, then sat for about 20 minutes and started and ran fine.

Maybe its just something that cannot be diagnosed until it doesnt start anymore.

What about fuel pressure regulator? I know its returnless and cant remember if it even has one. Isnt fuel pressure regulated by cycling the fuel pump on and off?

Thanks, and keep the ideas coming.

[ACRucrazy]

PATS

[Chrm97PI]

What about fuel pressure regulator? I know its returnless and cant remember if it even has one. Isnt fuel pressure regulated by cycling the fuel pump on and off?

Thanks, and keep the ideas coming.

i cant remember if the regulator is electronicaly controlled or vacume controlled, but that shouldnt cause a problem, all the regulator does is contoll the high-low speed on the fuel pump