A Never Ever for Car Maintenance

[saintsfanbrian]

Never EVER hang your drop light from the hood catch loop.

I did this on a 1996 Ford Taurus I was working on and inadvertently removed the extra hood prop (length of 2 x 4) that I was using in addition to the hydraulic hood struts.

Needless to say the hydraulics failed and the hood came crashing down sandwiching my drop light between the hood catch loop and the hood catch hook. The lights was so large that there was not enough room to release the hood catch hook.

After two days and a bunch of cursing and a new dremmel and a new dremmel extension I was able to saw the drop light in half and get the light out of the way enough to where I could open the hood.

Many bruises on the arms as there was only about 3 to 4 inches of space to work in.

PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. Hang the drop light where it will not interfere with the workings of the hood.

Oh, does anyone know what could cause this stupid engine not to turn over -

I have replaced spark plugs, O2 sensors etc. Battery is good. Starter motor is turning.

Anyone in the Memphis area want to help a brother out there is a six pack of decent beer in it for you.

[Mark@Sea]

I'm a long way from Memphis, but you need 5 things. Fuel, air, spark, compression and timing. Should be possible to eliminate 4 of the 5. Good luck!

[Il Duce]

maf sensor plugged in?

[Guest Swamprunner]

Check and see if you have fuel pressure. Get yerself a cheap fuel pressure gauge that attaches to the fuel rail schraeder valve, and turn the car on. you should have ample fuel pressure, and hear the fuel pump kick on and then stop when pressure is achieved. Then check and see if you have fire. PM me if you are not successful, my son had one of these, and I still have the service manual fer it. If you want, I can send it to ya.

[Guest musiccitymadman]

( Starter motor is turning.) Are you saying the starter is spinning over but the engine isn't turning over? I would recomend getiing an OBD scanner that will work for that model auto and scan the computer for fault codes. If I wasn't 200 miles north east of ya I would try to help ya.

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

From my inlaws experience with two Taurus's...I would guess....[And Brother that is Only A Guess].....is that your fuel pump has the bed.

IIRC...and this has been a few years back they were able to disconnect the fuel line and found while turning the motor over that there was no fuel coming thru it.

Another less costly problem could be a clogged fuel filter.

I am no longer a mechanic, never was a real one but at one time a man could work on his car, I havent been able to in many years.

The Inlaws have had several cars over the years with problems and I have made many a rescue ride. All I can remember for certain is that the fuel pump did go out on both the Taurus's they had.

[Guest bkelm18]

If your starter is working but your engine is not turning over, then it's not a fuel or combustion issue.

[Guest billwilly73]

Sounds like the bendix on the starter isn't catching the teeth on the flywheel

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

If your starter is working but your engine is not turning over, then it's not a fuel or combustion issue.

Yes this is true, I mis-read the OP and thought he said the motor was turning over. If the starter is spinning but not engaging the motor the problem could be with the starter itself and a part of it we use to call the Bendix.

It has been far too long for me and auto mechanics. I will bail from this thread until someone who has recent experience can tune in and hopefully help out.

Good luck, and I will heed your advice about hanging the light in that manner, I've done it may times without a problem but what a PITA that had to be.

[NextExit]

If you are getting fuel, then I would suspect the CPS (Crankshaft Position Sensor) Do you have an OBDII scanner to check the codes? Even if the Check Engine Light isn't on, it may have "pending" codes. BTW; please tell me you don't have the SHO version!

[VolunteerGuns]

More info needed.

1. Is the starter making a noise when key turned over?

2. Is the engine actually turning over(pulleys on front of motor spinning) but not firing up?

3. 3.0L sequential fuel injection? (I think)

[saintsfanbrian]

Thanks for all of the replies - my BIL (the mechanic) came over and helped- Turned out to be some bad gas and maybe a disconnected fuel injector wire.

Thanks again.

[Guest birdman]

If your starter is working but your engine is not turning over, then it's not a fuel or combustion issue.

That's not right. You can turn a motor over until the battery dies without fuel. The starter will function regardless and continue to turn the motor until you let go of the key. If an ignition or distributor is bad it will do the same thing. If you don't believe me go pull your fuel filter and test it out. If what you said were true then when a car ran out of gas it would not try to turn over.

Oh, and by the way, Get yourself a 2x4 or whatever will fit and place it between the hood and the body. That way you can put the drop light wherever you want to. A drop light shouldn't be making the hood fall anyway. Sounds like you have a leak in your hydraulic arms to me.

Edited March 8, 2010 by birdman

[Guest bkelm18]

That's not right. You can turn a motor over until the battery dies without fuel. The starter will function regardless and continue to turn the motor until you let go of the key. If an ignition or distributor is bad it will do the same thing. If you don't believe me go pull your fuel filter and test it out. If what you said were true then when a car ran out of gas it would not try to turn over.

Um no. You didn't understand what I was saying. I said if your starter is working properly and your engine ain't doing squat, then fuel has nothing to do with it. There's a difference between an engine not turning over and an engine that does turn over but wont start.

[molonlabetn]

My money's on an ignition module.

[Guest SUNTZU]

Thanks for all of the replies - my BIL (the mechanic) came over and helped- Turned out to be some bad gas and maybe a disconnected fuel injector wire.

Thanks again. - Posted 3-7-10

My money's on an ignition module.

Can we just call you Quickdraw? Or is that Kwikdraw?

[molonlabetn]

Whoops... I guess it pays to read the whole thread before replying!

[Capbyrd]

This brings up a pet peeve of mine. I have been known to work on cars now and then and I get a lot of phone calls from friends asking for help or opinions. I always have to explain this constantly.

Turning over - motor is spinning but will not start and run

I am sure that at some point this was a mechanics term and it slipped out into the general public. They just took it to mean that the car wouldnt start. It drives me nuts. Kinda like when someone says "could care less" but what they really mean is that they "couldn't care less."