Car Not Starting - Need Some Input

[Danman765432]

Ok so here is the story. I was driving over to my moms house and decided to get some gas since I was really low. I took about 12.5 gallons and normally I don't let it go down this low.

So, I pay and then try to start the car up and it won't start. Its cranking and trying to turn over but is sputtering. After trying to do it a few times I got a huge backfire that sounded like a gunshot. So I pushed it to the side of the gas station.

I had my mom come get me and my dog that was in the car so the dog could just go to a house. So after going to the house and calling AAA to get the car towed to the house, I went back to the gas station.

This was probably like 15 to 20 minutes later and I went to start the car and it was like nothing ever happening before. It started and turned over perfectly with no struggle at all.

So my question is what do you guys think happened?

I am thinking of a few things but just wondering what others think it is, that have more knowledge then me.

Thanks,

Dan

 

[desertcox05]

ck for codes first . if you have none it could be your pip inside your distributor is on it's way out.

 

[donkey_punch]

thats the beginings of the stator, or pip, whatever people call it, starting to go. what ends up happening is, it will to happen more often, and also die while driving and not start until it cools down.
what ever you do don't waste your money on an MSD dizzy like i did. just rebuild the stock one, i think the stator, or pip is like 40 or 50 bucks.

 

[desertcox05]

or if you want one with a warrenty then get one from the auto parts place of choice for about $120 + core. and you'll be good for as long as you own the car

 

[Mustangless]

I never let mine go below 1/4 tank. Then one day I was halfway between 1/4 and empty. Cranked Cranked and cranked. Finally after a long time trying it started. Filled up and it held 13 gallons. Our tank's are 15.7 gallons, so it was not that.

I read that it was probably the stator, but did not want to spend money trying to fix stuff. Then about a week later it did it again. Replaced the entire distributor and have not had the problem again. I got a remaned ford one from az.

I think you need a special tool to change the stator. I might be wrong though.

 

[desertcox05]

no special tool. just a vise and i small punch. and the dizzy comes apart. and a small torx bit. that's it

 

[HISSIN50]

Let it idle in the driveway or drive it around the block (near your house, being cognizant of the fact that it could stall out, etc) till it craps out again. Then when it won't restart, check fuel pressure and spark.

If pressure is good but it still wont restart, you could cool down the PIP (aerosol spray) and see if it magically restarts. That helps you know you've found the issue, instead of guessing.

Good luck.

 

[Danman765432]

Ok thanks guys, I was also thinking that it might have been something with the fuel pump or even a clogged line or fuel filter.

Normally when something goes wrong on everyone elses car I try and listen to see if the fuel pump is priming but today when mine wasn't working I didn't even attempt to listen.

Since you all agree on those two things that is what I will look into.

JT I will try your advice. I'll let it run in the driveway since my town is all hills and it would suck getting stuck on one.

Thanks again guys,

Ill give an update when I find out

-Dan

 

[Danman765432]

Ran the car for 45 minutes today and it showed no problems at all. Even when I tried to start it back up. I am going to toss a reman. distributor in for good measure. I mean the stock one does have 100k miles on it now so it was bound to go.

Ill keep everyone updated to see if this fixes it.

-Dan

 

[N2Gaming]

well did that fix it?

 

[99FiveOh]

Just for the record, those PIP sensors from Napa are only 25 bucks. A little clean up on the dizzy shaft, a little grease and it'll be like brand new! And alot of peeps are claiming that reman'd distributors won't have new PIP's installed if they are tested good... that is BS since they won't show bad if they're tested cold.

 

[Danman765432]

Ok here is my update on the thread...I didnt want to post it too early to make sure that it didnt happen again and two months is a pretty long period of time and with the heat we have been seeing up here in NJ lately I would say it did fix it.

I replaced my distributor with an Autozone remanufactured one...My first distributor I got from them did not work. I also put on a new MSD cap and rotor and also installed Ford Racing Spark Plug Wires.

Everything is running good and fine and I have not had a problem with it dying since.