99 windstar won't start after driving for a good distance

ohnj · 03-11-2007, 12:53 AM

My wife's 99 windstar has been acting up for the past 8 months...basically...when you try to start the vehicle after driving for a decent distance, it stalls right away after you turn the engine. A good example is say...drive for say 40 minutes at 45mpg+....get to a parking lot...stop the car and restart....it would crank, start...but stalls immediately. Unfortunately it does happen all the time which makes the diagnostics difficult. In all cases, she needs to wait for anywhere from 20 -40 minutes for the car to "cool" down...then it will start right up as if nothing has happened.

Our mechanics have cleaned the IAC control, fuel injection, installed new plugs and wires, replaced air filter, replaced the MAP sensor, the throttle control....but none of these helped. Apparantely, no engine code to go by and off course, when the van gets to his place, it starts right up.

This is really driving our crazy. Any help is much appreciated.

mark v · 03-11-2007, 09:07 AM

Sounds like a weak fuel pump.

ohnj · 03-11-2007, 01:49 PM

Mark,

Thanks for the suggestion....will bad fuel pump only cause problem when the engine is warm and not cold?

mark v · 03-11-2007, 03:28 PM

If it is weak it may. Sometimes when the pumps get old they do funny things. Replace the Fuel Filter too.

Question.... Can you hear the fuel pump, is it loud? It is located in the tank behind the Drivers seat area. If you can it is probably getting weak but sometimes they dont make a sound and they are weak.

Mine died after a drive with out any problems. I shut the car off, went in the store, came out and it wouldnt start. Had it towed since I just bought it used from the Dealer 1 hour before. They said the fuel pump was bad.

CraigRK · 03-11-2007, 03:59 PM

ohnj

Although you don't have any engine codes YET, this sounds like the behavior that can signal an upcoming "Too Lean" code. The stalling problem could be a vacuum leak that worsens when the engine is warm (such as the ole intake manifold isolator bolts issue), or simply a vacuum leak with effects that are more pronounced once the engine is warm. For example, my WS would drive fine on the highway for an extended time period, but would then often stall at the first stop light on an exit. Carefully check all vacuum hoses, fittings, couplers etc., as well as your PCV valve. If you can, test the intake manifold for leakage when warm (I think that is done using a liquid to see if it gets sucked in anywhere).
Good Luck.

CraigRK

ohnj · 03-13-2007, 11:20 AM

I am going to take the van back to the mechanics to check on the fuel pump....any idea if the gas tank has to be taken out in order to replace the pump?

mark v · 03-13-2007, 04:39 PM

Tank has to be dropped to replace the pump.

ohnj · 03-15-2007, 07:12 PM

well....a new fuel pump & fuel filter is installed....let's see what happened....will try some long trip this weekend....thanks for your suggestion.

mark v · 03-15-2007, 08:15 PM

Please post your results.

CraigRK · 03-16-2007, 07:30 AM

just wondering . . .

Did your mechanic perform a simple fuel system pressure test before you replaced the fuel pump? Did you replace the fuel filter first, then try the vehicle, before going to the expense of replacing the pump? If not, you might consider a new mechanic/shop . . .

CraigRK