My car won't start

[~impuLsive]

I posted this ad on craigslist - I need your help people.

I have a 1999 Crown Victoria that will not start. We had a snow storm yesterday (New Jersey) as you may know and I do not know if it is a factor or not but most likely is. I turned it on this morning, let it run for 10-15 minutes, and went on my way to do business with someone. The car was running fine but didn't feel right when driving it. It felt like I didn't have full control of it. Eventually, when I pressed on the gas, It would not accelerate. It would attempt to accelerate but fail. It would not accelerate at all no matter how hard I hit the pedal. The car eventually shut off by its self and I had to move over to the nearest street which I eventually I did. Waited 15-20 mins to see if it would start back up, it did, and then it died 25-30 seconds later. Called towing to bring it to my house, paid $100 just for them to bring it to my house which was 3 miles away.

Car recently got oil change and transmission fluid change - Although there is gas in the tank, i put some extra gas that i have to see if it would do anything and the car runs fine for a seconds and then shuts off. Otherwise, you can't turn it on at all. If you try turning it on now, it wont turn on. If you put in a little bit of gas (Even though there is gas), it runs for a few seconds before it shuts off.

I do not know what the issue is - It seems like water got either in the gas tank somehow or somewhere else. I can not afford to pay hundreds of dollars to get this fixed and am looking for someone that does not charge a big fee to help me out here and let me know what exactly is wrong and if they could fix it. It would cost me $100 to call towing and then another few hundred for the repair shop to do some simple things and charge me $600 dollars.

[shockz]

Sounds like something is plugged or blocked.

I had a blocked catalytic converter that basically caused the car to do the same thing. However Snow wouldn't cause that problem.

Do you get a engine light?

[SyntaxError]

Sounds like the fuel filter needs replacing. Better do it first and hope. It's cheap enough to replace on most vehicles, usually around $10 or less. Locate and remove the fuel filter, look on the body of it for a directional arrow and blow into the filter in that direction. If there's any resistance at all, replace it.

Some vehicles might also have a second fuel filter under the hood, just before the injectors. If you have the secondary filter, replace it as well.

Chances are the filter has been clogged so long that it's burned up the fuel pump, so you will need to replace the filter, pump and screen. The screen is a pre-filter attached directly to the pump, and you must replace it otherwise the warranty on a new pump will be instantly void.

You might get lucky and find out there's an access hatch in the trunk or under the back seat. If not, then you will have to drain the gas tank and remove it. It's a pain in the ass on any vehicle.

I've replaced the fuel pump on my current car twice and it doesn't get any easier.

[Cupcakes]

Is the car dying when you give it gas but okay if you just leave it on and idle?

Sounds like you might need a new fuel pump and/or fuel injector. That happened to me a couple years ago. Started up fine but it was acting a little sluggish and gassing it wouldn't accelerate at all. I was at a red light then once it turned green I went to gas it but it barely was able to hit 5MPH so I pulled over thinking I was low on gas (it was almost on E on a night that was -20 degrees.) Had my dad come out with some starter fuel, gas, oil.. the works. Once he was able to get it into his shop he was able to find out I needed both the fuel pump and injector to be replaced.

[Sikh]

Fuel Pump issue like stated. Best way to know that is, when you turn the key, does your car prime? By prime I mean your fuel filter usually makes a high pitched noise for the first 3-5 seconds when you turn the key before you start it up.

So, do me a favor and just turn the key, nothing else. Dont turn it all the way to start it, just turn it to the first click, and try to see if you can hear anything, if you cant its your Pump + your filter should be changed as well.

All cars, afaik you can here the fuel pump prime. Ive worked on a few(20+) cars and changed fuel filters / pumps/ injectors / oil / etc. Anything but engine block and transmission and let me tell you changing a fuel pump is a bitch not matter which way you do it. As most cars the tank is at the bottom, so you have to drain, lift up card, drop tank with most likely rusted straps but whats worse is rusted bolts that will end up breaking. So besides all that hassle, youll have a hard time possibly pulling it out.

Ive worked on a 98 and 2003 Crown Vic. They both had big ass gas tanks, i dont know if its normal or not as the 98 wasnt a police package car but the 2003 was a full police package car. Both had same gas tanks so i dont think it matters. But either way, if your cars been in the snow at all, pretty much gurrantee the bottom to be a pain in the ass.

[MR_Candyman]

Man, sometimes I'm really happy to see the responses on this forum.

Definitely sounds like a fuel problem as stated.

[~impuLsive]

I think I need a new Fuel Pump according to my dad.

I love the help on the forum :)

The car will not start at all. When you try, you can hear it trying to turn on but it wont turn on. My dad said the fuel pump is done and needs a new one.

Im going to Strauss Auto (Im in New Jersey) and going to ask them to fix the whole car up and tell me if snow is a factor or not and what I can do to prevent this from happening in the future.

[speedstr3789]

could just be ice in the gas lines. Put a can of heet in it and start it up and let it idle for a bit. Or try to get it into a warm garage.

[~impuLsive]

Their going to be able to tell me if snow is a factor or not right?

[MR_Candyman]

honestly man, snow is very, VERY rarely a factor in anything car related. The cold might be freezing the gas (if it's REALLY cold). The freezing point of PURE unleaded gasoline is -150F (-101C). Usually water is added and various other things to rip us off, so it's really usually around the -40 mark that the gasoline we get freezes

[SyntaxError]

All cars, afaik you can here the fuel pump prime.

Not true at all.

I currently drive a 93 Pontiac Grand Prix Coupe, and it's rare to hear the pump.

My other cars, in no particular order, were an 81 Camaro, 85 Ford Escort, 86 Olds Delta 88, 94 Dodge Colt, 87 Nissan Stanza, 87 Nissan Hardbody, and a 94 Dodge Ram. Never heard the fuel pump in any of them.

My mom drives a 2004 Buick LeSabre and you can hear the fuel pump every time.

Used to drive a couple 2 ton dump bed trucks for work and both of those had loud fuel pumps.

I have no idea what determines whether you can hear the fuel pump or not. Probably a combo of several factors.

[MR_Candyman]

If the fuel pump is in the fuel tank you won't be able to hear it. I don't know of any vehicel made in the last 10 years that hasn't had it outside the tank. A '99 crown vic is borderline. I would probably have somebody on the ground beside the tank and see if they hear it going.

[master2k27]

my car wont start, i was late for work and my boss got smart.

go old shnina twain

[~impuLsive]

Need a new fuel pump and fuel filter.

$688.

[SyntaxError]

Need a new fuel pump and fuel filter.

$688.

Is that the quoted price from a mechanic? No matter where that price came from, you are getting screwed hard.

The fuel pump, strainer and fuel filter for my 93 Pontiac was barely over $100, and I did the work myself. Plus I got a lifetime guarantee on the fuel pump, so if it does go out again, it won't cost me anything.

I just looked up the fuel pump for a 99 Crown Vic on the O'Reilly Auto Parts website and they list it for $99.99, the strainer for $19.99, and the OEM (Motorcraft) filter for $12.99. Of course these are prices for my area in North Carolina, but they shouldn't be much higher in Jersey. Certainly not high enough to justify damn near $700, even with maximum of 3 hours labor, and that's probably being generous.

Was going to check Autozone but their site is down for maintenance at this time.

Do yourself a favor and don't go to the Ford dealer to have work done. Learn to do it yourself instead.

This reminds me of an airhead cousin. She needed a replacement power window motor for the driver's door in her minivan. Don't remember what year, but it's newer than 2003. Anyway, I don't know where she went to have it done, but it cost her $600.

I've replaced power window motors in several cars over the years and none have cost more than $50 brand new. The labor involved can't possibly add up to an additional $550 since the job usually only takes about an hour, maybe 2 tops.

[Madoshi]

but thats where they make their money ;)

if you have a good set of tools, a jack, a couple jackstands, and a can of WD-40, then drop the tank and do it yer self, its not all that hard. old fuel pump comes out, new one goes in, usually plug-in but some replacement parts make you wire their pigtail in place of the original OEM plug (replacement Autozone fuel pump for Chevy S10 does, don't ask why)

[rathefeare]

Do keep in mind if you chose to do it yourself that working outside laying on the ground in New Jersey right now is going to suck badly. Also a 98 Crown Vic from Jersey is going to be load of rusted parts down there. Just things to consider if you are going to try this one yourself.