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Pages: 1

car cranks but wont turn over

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Posted by: stlunatic

just this morning, after cleaning my car, of course my car wont start.i know this has been discussed plenty of times and i did search and got some answers but im still a little confused. im thinking it could be the starter or the fuel pump but how would i go about checking these? i just dont know how to go about trouble shooting my problem, any suggestions are welcome. thanks guys

Posted by: 93' Blue on blue

If car cranks, then it's not the starter.

Try unplugging and plugging back in the crank position sensor. (it's near the crank pulley)

Posted by: stlunatic

excuse my ignorance. wheres the crank pulley?

Posted by: 1bad4.6l

youre engine looks like a v at the very bottom of the v is the crank pulley

Posted by: stlunatic

well that helps a little bit but i dont want to just be yanking on stuff without really knowing what im looking for

Posted by: rayner601

If it started before you washed it, you may have inadvertently gotten water/moisture in the plug wells. My gen 2 does this when I wash it and it's parked uphill. Pull the wires out one by one and see if they are damp or sweating. If they are, blow the ends of the wires and the plug wells with compressed air. Insert the nozzle into the plug well and then put a rag or towel over the hole. This will keep the crud that gets in there from coming out all over you. The crank sensor is between the a/c compressor and the crank pulley. It's a 2 wire connector. Try wiggling or removing and reconnecting the connector.

Posted by: stlunatic

where am i pulling wires from? im not sure if the car would start before i washed it, but it was fine last night.

:edit:
just snooped around in the engine a little bit. im not seeing any signs of moisture any where. its pretty warm out, i washed my car at 11 and its almost 5 now so i dont think moisture is the problem

Posted by: rayner601

I don't have a pic of it, but just do a google image search on 97 Lincoln Mark 8 crank sensor and it's on the second page about 1/2 way down...

link
3rd row down, 4th result

Posted by: XLRVIII

The bottom pulley is the crank pulley
the crank sensor is at or about the 8-9 oclock position on the pulley, the sensor is between the crank pulley and the AC compressor.

IF you look, you will see it.
Unplug it
crank the car, of course it wont start
then plug the sensor back in

Posted by: stlunatic

ok i looked in my engine bay at the bottom pulley and im not seeing it. is it more behind the crank or should it be right there in front of me? sorry bear with me here guys

Posted by: 93' Blue on blue

Here we go: (view is from underneath the car)

Hopefully, when you washed the car, the connector just got damp.

Posted by: stlunatic

thanks 93 that pic helped a whole lot. unforunetly that was not the problem. im thinking its either the fuel pump or the fuel filter. are our fuel pumps inside the tank or outside? also i tried following the fuel line to find the filter to see if it was clogged but was unable to find it?

Posted by: 93' Blue on blue

Fuel filter is in the passenger fender well, behind the plastic shield. Fuel pump is in the fuel tank.

Still seems like too much of a coincidence to me - car gets washed, then doesn't 'fire up'

When you turn the ignition key to the position before the car actually cranks, do you hear the pump at all?

Also, did you try unplugging and plugging in the crank sensor a few times?

How about leaving the hood open, so that any remaining water can evaporate easily?

Checked all your fuses yet?

Fuel: How much fuel is in the tank?

Just thinking of anything to try.

Posted by: Frogman

I'm only typing this because I'm in a good mood... so far.

Fuel filter = Behind front passenger tire. have to move the splash shield out of the way. That's the plastic thinghy over the tires.

Fuel pump in tank. Put ignition to run and listen for the fuel pump. If you can hear it, then it's good. But listen closely.

Check to see if you have fuel pressure at the schrader valve. Search for the word here and you'll find pics of where it's at. IF you have fuel pressure at the valve, then your pump is good.

Search.

Posted by: stlunatic

checked all fuses and theyre fine, should be enough gas in the car to start. im going to look into the schrader valve now, i really appreciate your help guys

Posted by: XLRVIII

Might make it easier for people to help if you included the year of the car you are working on.
first gens have some specific issues that relate to first gens
96's have their own little world of problems..
97-98's have different scenario's/problems than the first gens.

HELP us, help YOU.

Posted by: XLRVIII

Quote:

Originally Posted by XLRVIII

The bottom pulley is the crank pulley
the crank sensor is at or about the 8-9 oclock position on the pulley, the sensor is between the crank pulley and the AC compressor.

I gave tiffany (my girlfriend) the above instructions, and she walked out there and found it in about 4 seconds.

Posted by: XLRVIII

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlunatic

unforunetly that was not the problem.

Ok if you just unplugged it and plugged it back in and it didn't FIX the problem, that does NOT mean the Crank Sensor isn't the issue.

sometimes when they start to go bad you "can" do the unplug/plug back in test.

But just because that didn't work, does NOT mean the CPS isn't bad.

next step is to "replace" it..might consider replacing the Cam Sensor while your at it.
Cam Sensor is BEHIND the power steering resevoir, you have to pull the resevoir off to gain access to it.

Tiffany changed her own Cam Sensor in about 15 minutes, She was stranded at OReilly.. I told her to buy the sensor and I would drive up there and put it on.. by the time I got there.. she was bolting the power steering resevior back on the car..
(lol)
Girlfriends FTW!!

Posted by: stlunatic

well congratulations because tiffany must be the sh#t. i wish i had the time to do all this myself and try to figure out whats wrong but i really dont so i had it towed to a shop today. hopefully everything turns out well.

Posted by: XLRVIII

well she IS "the sh*t" but she also knows how to follow directions...

the CPS isn't a "tow it to the shop" job..
it's a roll your sleeves up and fix it job

it aint rocket science hell, it aint even model rocket science.

Posted by: ford nut

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlunatic

well congratulations because tiffany must be the sh#t. i wish i had the time to do all this myself and try to figure out whats wrong but i really dont so i had it towed to a shop today. hopefully everything turns out well.

LOL !!!
I think the Tiffany mod is the $hit!

Posted by: stlunatic

Quote:

Originally Posted by XLRVIII

well she IS "the sh*t" but she also knows how to follow directions...

the CPS isn't a "tow it to the shop" job..
it's a roll your sleeves up and fix it job

it aint rocket science hell, it aint even model rocket science.

look man, if i knew what i was doing i would feel more inclined to do something like that. i do most of my maintenance myself and believe me i am regretting taking it to the shop because i know its going to cost me. you don't have to make me feel like an a$$hole by giving examples on how your chick could find the part in 4 seconds blah blah blah. i just wanted some input here. i appreciate everyones help

Posted by: XLRVIII

well I wasn't trying to make you feel like an azzhole.

was trying to get you to find the danged thing, check it and change it if needed.
IF you have the mechanical skills to change the plugs and oil, then the CPS is well within' your ability.

You came asked for advice, I was really only trying to help you.

it's not my fault your having second thoughts about committing to pay someone else to do it.

Posted by: turn_on68

So do we have an answer to what it was yet?

Posted by: stlunatic

clogged fuel filter and the fuel pump is on the way out. theyre trying to charge me quite a bit for the upmp, which is a mark viii specific pump. i asked him about the ford focus pump but he said he didnt recommend that. something about pumping capacity not matching up or something. is the focus pump the exact pump we have? because the prices ive been finding these focus pumps is much cheaper then the pump theyre trying to sell.
they wont be able to get the pump in until monday so that at least gives me some time to shop around

Posted by: turn_on68

I was told a long time ago that if you do not keep your fuel filter changed you will damage the fuel pump. Here is a 97-98 Mark VIII fuel pump used:
here is the eBay item number,
Item number: 180344501502

Posted by: stlunatic

would you guys recommend a used pump? that would save me a couple hundy right there.

:edit: just got on supercoupe.com and found a new mark viii pump for $170 http://supercoupeperformance.com/par...spx?partId=515

just wanted to make sure this is the exact part i need

Posted by: turn_on68

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlunatic

would you guys recommend a used pump? that would save me a couple hundy right there.

Yes and get your car back and do it yourself. All you have to do is lower your gas tank after draining as much of the gas out as you can. Simple unscrew old unplug wire, plug in replacement and screw it back down into tank and raise tank back up. Filter is at any auto supply, easy to replace, you will need to remove the front passenger tire to get to the inner fender material to pull it away to expose the filter.

Posted by: stlunatic

well the shop already changed the filter so ill only be paying them for the diagnostic and the filter. i think im going to order the supercoupe pump and just have a couple friends help me out with it.

Posted by: stlunatic

you guys have any better places to go the supercoupe? they seem pretty legit...

Posted by: The Rev

They are. I got some good things from them, and have heard many success stories. You still haven't told us what year it is.

Posted by: Frogman

SCP is a legit outfit, even if Bill is an arrogant prick.

Posted by: stlunatic

sorry its a 98