LinkMan
01-27-2005, 01:22 AM
Tonight I joined the "Cougar owners with mechanical issues" club :cry:
Fortunately, it was Ol' Ruby the Tempo and not the Cougar (though the Coug is throwing a CEL :( at the moment and I've not had it read yet 'cause the weather has sucked so hard lately). Unfortunately it did it on the way home from work and I had to call a friend for a rescue and a tow truck to get Ol' Ruby home. So despite the predictions of sleet and freezing rain for the morning commute I'll be in Laser Red.
I drove Ol' Ruby home from work and stopped at UDF to get some gas - put in $10 'cause I didn't want to fill it up since the price went up today and I know it'll go down on Monday. Started the car, drove a block to the post office. Mailed my bill payments, and restarted car. Started home. Got about a half mile down the road and she just quit. Only a mile and a half from home.
I press the gas and she doesn't go any faster "why am I slowing down?" I press gas further. "Why is it so quiet?" NO ENGINE RUNNING is why. I coast to the side of the road, shut off everything, and attempt restart. Cranks and cranks and cranks. Nothing else. I hear the fuel pump whine when I turn the key so it's working.
So tomorrow night or whenever I get the chance to look under the hood - what do I look for? Check for spark. What else? Clogged fuel filter? ::sigh::
Lessons learned - always carry a phone charger in the car, don't leave it in the "good" car - always know the number of a tow truck or have a AAA membership - and always wear thick socks, it was cold during the wait.
* Edit evening of 27 Jan *
I was trying to figure out how to turn the key AND watch for spark all by my lonesome when I decided to try to start her one more time... fired right up like nothing was the matter. custom_images/emoticons/shocked.gif Note that I hadn't done anything yet other than pull the hood latch. So I drove her out of the garage (since she was in backwards and it would have been difficult to work right up against the garage door) into the street and turned around, pulled back into the driveway and left her running while I went back in to put down clean newspapers (little bit'o oil leak). And while I was doing that she just stopped again. Headlights still on and not dimming. Just like the key was turned off, I didn't hear any pops or falters or rough idling. So I go out and turn the key, starts right up again. Drive her in. Get out to check clearance, back up a foot, get out to check again, and she dies once more. That's where I left her.
So... she's got fuel and spark, but something is cutting out intermittently. I'm thinking electrical, maybe ignition switch? Any suggestions for stuff under the hood? Remember, it was just sitting there when it died tonight, so it didn't take much vibration. Could it still be an arcing wire? ECU failing? Intermittent makes it down right frustrating.
Thanks again.
Fortunately, it was Ol' Ruby the Tempo and not the Cougar (though the Coug is throwing a CEL :( at the moment and I've not had it read yet 'cause the weather has sucked so hard lately). Unfortunately it did it on the way home from work and I had to call a friend for a rescue and a tow truck to get Ol' Ruby home. So despite the predictions of sleet and freezing rain for the morning commute I'll be in Laser Red.
I drove Ol' Ruby home from work and stopped at UDF to get some gas - put in $10 'cause I didn't want to fill it up since the price went up today and I know it'll go down on Monday. Started the car, drove a block to the post office. Mailed my bill payments, and restarted car. Started home. Got about a half mile down the road and she just quit. Only a mile and a half from home.
I press the gas and she doesn't go any faster "why am I slowing down?" I press gas further. "Why is it so quiet?" NO ENGINE RUNNING is why. I coast to the side of the road, shut off everything, and attempt restart. Cranks and cranks and cranks. Nothing else. I hear the fuel pump whine when I turn the key so it's working.
So tomorrow night or whenever I get the chance to look under the hood - what do I look for? Check for spark. What else? Clogged fuel filter? ::sigh::
Lessons learned - always carry a phone charger in the car, don't leave it in the "good" car - always know the number of a tow truck or have a AAA membership - and always wear thick socks, it was cold during the wait.
* Edit evening of 27 Jan *
I was trying to figure out how to turn the key AND watch for spark all by my lonesome when I decided to try to start her one more time... fired right up like nothing was the matter. custom_images/emoticons/shocked.gif Note that I hadn't done anything yet other than pull the hood latch. So I drove her out of the garage (since she was in backwards and it would have been difficult to work right up against the garage door) into the street and turned around, pulled back into the driveway and left her running while I went back in to put down clean newspapers (little bit'o oil leak). And while I was doing that she just stopped again. Headlights still on and not dimming. Just like the key was turned off, I didn't hear any pops or falters or rough idling. So I go out and turn the key, starts right up again. Drive her in. Get out to check clearance, back up a foot, get out to check again, and she dies once more. That's where I left her.
So... she's got fuel and spark, but something is cutting out intermittently. I'm thinking electrical, maybe ignition switch? Any suggestions for stuff under the hood? Remember, it was just sitting there when it died tonight, so it didn't take much vibration. Could it still be an arcing wire? ECU failing? Intermittent makes it down right frustrating.
Thanks again.